Ankle Boots with a Difference

Saint Laurent £ 595  vs See by Chloe  £ 361

If there's an indispensable pair of shoes that every woman should have in her closet, it would have to be black ankle boots. Any half decent fashionista knows that. Well.....except moi. I've been searching high and low for ones that aren't too chunky, embellished, tons of hardware or bland. It's a well known fact that I can't do heels but I'm short enough to warrant some help in that department.

Up until this point,  the only black ankle boots that make my heart goes pitter patter would have to be these glorious sleek beauties from Saint Laurent. Which are also insanely expensive. And costs an entire month's grocery. It was instant love the minute I saw these See by Chloe 30mm boots from the new Fall/Winter collection at Liberty. Trust me to pick the one thing that isn't on sale. I'm not a big fan of See by Chloe clothes or bags but I've found their shoes to be inordinately comfortable unlike the ones from the mainline. The price tag is easier on the pocket too.

I love that the soles are cushioned (hate hard soles!), fit is great (hate slippage just as much), the leather is soft and supple and they're superbly well made. The price is a little to swallow as it's still a hefty sum of money to part with. What are your thoughts on these two?

Shopping the Sales sensibly

1.  J.Crew parka £95   2. Church's slippers £135   3. J.Crew cashmere sweater £132.50  4. K.Jacques St Tropez sandals £131.50   5. See by Chloe sandals £85   6. J.Crew top  £23

I physically cringe when I think about the piles of stuff that I'd bought during the sales over the years. I was hypnotized by the signboards - 70% off! 85% off! Second markdown! That lemon Chloe top that I'd purchased in a moment of madness? Sure it was 90% off but $100 is a $100 especially when I've only ever worn it once and looked like a fruit. I can't even give it away because no sane person I know has ever gracefully accepted my generous offer. Or the heels I'd purchased just because they looked great when I wore it in front of the mirror. It didn't matter that I was holding on to the wall as I made my way back to the chair.

And now let's look at the other extreme. By the time the sales have arrived, I would've been so saturated with the constant stream of images that passed my screen that I couldn't be bothered braving the crowds nor trawling through the websites. Of course all the best items have sold out when I truly needed that parka or top and then I'd have to search again and pay full price. I'd like to think I'm now a seasoned shopping warrior (doesn't that sound a little more urbane?). Okay, still capable of making a few mistakes here and there but thankfully, nothing earth shattering. So let's indulge in a few frivolous insights into the world of sales shopping.

1. IT items on sale. Do NOT go there.
I'm not going to lie. I looooooove sweatshirts (and trackpants but that's another story). Say, the ubiquitous Kenzo tiger sweatshirt going for just under £200?  Most aren't on sale but heck, it's a sweatshirt with a tiger staring back at you. It's a little like the Fendi baguette. It was essentially a small handbag ranging from normal leather to insanely embellished going for eye watering prices that no one would be caught dead using these days.


2. I can't believe it's so cheeeeaaaaaappp!
There are 2 scenarios. You've been eyeing that holy grail for what seemed like a million years and then wham! It's on sale for like, 70% off. You grasp that prize and clasp that to your chest to protect it from marauding bargain hunters. Or, you systematically go through the racks with the highest discount to find a treasure. You rationalize that it's so cheap. I mean, it was £700 and now it's £150. Of course, you've got to buy it. I mean, it's Isabel Marant, for goodness sakes! It doesn't't matter that you can barely pull the leather pants pass your thighs, you'll stretch them and make them work (by holding your breath and sucking your tummy in till you nearly pass out AND eat salad for a whole month and  pass out from starvation. Either way works).


3. Does it suit your lifestyle or climate?
Both Lauraloo (who's from California) and I grabbed the same Rag & Bone knitted sweater. It was beyond glorious. She looked divine in it. I was tempted not to bother trying it on but common sense prevailed. I would've freeze in a nanosecond if I attempt to wear it out on a normal cold day in the UK. I ended up with a thicker Isabel Marant sweater which will not only keep me warm but will go with most of my existing wardrobe.

After discovering that most of my outfit photos consisted of my Zara boyfriend jeans (hands up WHO hasn't seen me in those ripped boyfriend jeans?!!), James Jeans and track pants, I figured it was time to add another pair of pants to my sadly lacking collection. By understanding what I really needed, I was in and out of the department store within the hour. I bought what I needed and left.


4. Do this if you're a master shopping warrior
A few weeks before the sales.........Scout the stores. Try on the clothes.  Pop the desired items on your wish list. And pounce the minute the sale is on.

Just so you know, the Net-A-Porter International sale is ON. Shop sensibly and try not to click away when you're drunk.

My 3 current favorite things

It was a warm sunny Sunday when I caught up with an old friend of mine, Christine in London. We strolled through the lovely St James's Park when I thought it'd be neat to get the kids (hers and mine) even more hyper than they already are by offering them a sugary treat - ice cream from one of the many kiosks there. I'm not a huge fan of ice cream but the minute I sunk my teeth into these Purbeck ice cream, it was excruciatingly difficult to NOT snatch the cone from Lil L. Thus began my love affair with Purbeck ice creams.

This is what I call proper ice cream. None of those guar gum crap (commonly used as a thickener) mixed with a truckful of sugar. It was not sickeningly sweet but made of pure divine cream and milk with real vanilla bean seeds. Let's just say I went a little nuts and googled to find the nearest stockist. I pleaded insanity and intense craving (no, I'm not pregnant) so she reluctantly agreed to deliver a batch to me. It was, hands down, the BEST ice cream that has ever passed through my lips. Be warned, there's only approximately a few thousand calories in each tub.





I often drop by Fortnum & Mason to pick up a few English delights for friends who are visiting from overseas. I bought this apple green tea for my friend S amongst other things. She texted back a week later to say that it was beyond delicious. Well, heck, now that she'd raved about it, I had to make another trek to the posh English institution. The service is ...... how should I describe it?

1) To excel in customer service at Fortnum & Mason, one must never ever crack a smile for fear of appearing friendly. Adopt a constipated look.
2) Rule number 2, sniff and direct your nose upwards because you're an old English institution which used to only serve the aristocracy. These days, one must deal with the general riff raff in order to survive in the current economic crisis. Ah..... the agony.

Snarky commentaries aside, there are too many delights in there to mention, namely rose jelly, handmade fudge and truffles. BUT, do try the refreshing green tea with the subtle apple flavor which will tickle the fancy of most hardcore tea drinkers.




I've read about the goodness of apple cider vinegar for years but the idea of drinking it with just a splash of warm water just kills me. Anyway, the promise of good skin and better health won me over. The American version - Braggs costs an arm and a leg so I thought it may be a better idea to support the local economy by buying a British product. Apparently, the important thing to look for is this magical "mother" enzyme blah blah blah (yes, notice my attention to detail). I bought a bottle of Bobby Apple Cider Vinegar , dropped 2 capfuls of the liquid into half a glass of lukewarm water in the morning. The oddest thing is I felt more energetic despite the lack of sleep. The skin's brighter too. The only downside of this is, the effect goes off fairly quickly if you don't keep this up everyday. Head straight over to their website here for more info.

The Sale Season is ON!

 

1  /  2  /  3  /  4 (size up)  /  5  /  6  (if buying patent leather, take 2 sizes up)  /  7  /

Like most of you, I note down the items I would like to buy and then wait for the sales before hitting the racks (well, virtually anyway). Why pay retail if you can get the same items at discounted prices? When I lived in New Zealand, flip flops, shorts and tees were my daily uniform. Over here in the U.K, I would probably freeze in summer if I wore the same attire all day.

Last year, nearly everyone in town piled in front of the huge screen to watch the Olympic Games opening ceremony. By nightfall, everyone's teeth were chattering and hugging the picnic mat. Rule number 1 in the U.K: Be prepared for 4 seasons in a single day. Rule 2: water resistant (or waterproof) outerwear is a MUST. I think I may have found my holy grail parka - Woolrich coat which is long enough to cover most of my body AND comes with a hood.

1  (runs slightly big) /  2  /  3  /  4  (runs small) / 

Just in case if you're wondering my obsession for ankle strap sandals has waned........ Nope. Sorry. BUT lately, I can't get statement shoes out of my head. If you wear a somewhat monochromatic outfit the way that I do, these eye-catching footwear will give it that extra oomph.

1  /   2   /   3   /   4

Here are 4 jackets - all discounted from 30% to 70% which will pretty much cover most occasions and all 4 seasons unless you live in Scandinavia or Russia (in which case dressing like the Michelin man is necessary for survival) . Happy shopping!

Bag Hunting

 

Lately, I've been feeling a little like Miss Goldilocks when she was deciding which chair to sit on. In my case, it's not the chair but the handbag dilemma that I'm facing. It's a case of too big, too small, too expensive, too badly made, too fragile and so on and so on. Poor Sue of Susie So So came with me on a handbag expedition shopping trip a couple of times. After seeing me practically eyeballing and dissecting each designer bag, I doubt she'd ever contemplate shopping with me again. I'm a little OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) when it comes to bags. Are the stitches tight? Are the threads thick enough? What's the lining and workmanship like? Are the edges smooth?

I tend to go for larger bags, ones that fit my entire flat and pets (if I have any). But I also swing the other extreme where I like teeny tiny bags that fit practically nothing (Chanel W.O.C). What I don't have is something in between. I've been looking for a bag just big enough to schlep around but not too precious that I'll have to worry about every dirt or scratch mark.

 


Enter the vintage Coach Court bag, thanks to Jean of Extra Petite who did an excellent review about the bag sometime back in February this year. I did a frantic search on eBay and found one for a mere USD 39.95. Shipping and duty tax cost me more than the bag itself but all up, it was approximately £58 for a near new vintage Coach bag.

I got my local cobbler to punch a few more holes on the strap. My giant wallet (I fed it steroids) along with my over-sized Samsung Galaxy Note (also on steroids) fit into the bag with room to spare. I can also comfortably plonk my sunglasses case in too. The leather is thick and luscious but still hasn't been used enough to achieve a nice patina yet.

The hubby and Lil L along with a couple of other friends raved about the bag each time they see me with it. The latter has taken to modeling with the bag in front of the mirror at every opportunity. It's interesting to note that my Chanel W.O.C  barely got any acknowledgement.

My Week in Pictures

 Left to right: Antique bridal chest, abacus, red packets, handmade silk shoes for lotus feet and snapshots I took of South West China.

When Lil L's normally temperamental school bursar looked overjoyed to see me as I walked through the main door, I knew I was in deep s**t. Dude, for the millionth time, I'm not from China (this has been going on for 3 years). And yes, there are plenty of oriental faces in New Zealand. Yes, really. Anyway, the sucker that I am, I ended up representing China during the school's Multi Cultural Week. Here's the conversation I had with Lil L's classmates:
Kids: Lil L's mommy (they seriously call me that), why does it say China here? *puzzled look* Aren't you from New Zealand?
Me: Well, there aren't any Chinese in school so let's pretend I'm from China.
Kids: Isn't that like lying?
Me: My granddad's from China. Does that help?
Kids: Ummm....... oooookay. If you say so. *looking at me suspiciously*

The next day, we got up extra early and headed to London. First up on the agenda - Aime's twice yearly sample sale. Unfortunately, there were hardly any Isabel Marant jackets. However, there were plenty of obscenely short skirts which are perfect for tweens and teens but would most likely convey the wrong message if I wore one out. I'd probably send a poor soul straight into a comatose state if I inadvertently flashed someone by the simple act of bending down to pick something up from the floor.

There were plenty of Isabel Marant ankle strap heels and boots as well as shoes from A.P.C and Porselli, all slashed by 50% - 60%. I decided to appease my multiple personalities by choosing a proper shirt dress followed by a psychedelic print t-shirt, both deeply discounted.

After battling hordes of tourists crowding around the Portobello market and the stifling heat at the 20th century theater where the sale was held, we decided to head down Westbourne Grove in search of sustenance. We stopped by Taqueria which was pretty good. The portions were small but I loved the Al pastor tacos (grilled marinated pork, coriander, chopped onion, coriander and pineapple). The service was polite if a little inefficient as we had to ask several times for our drinks and they managed to mix up our order too. Thanks, Ammu for the suggestion. We'll definitely try Wahaca in the future.

We made a mad dash to our friend's little boy's 1 year old party. All the kids were nearly blinded by the incessant flashes going off at the same time from the papa - razzi and mama - razzi. If you're a parent, you'll totally agree with this. It's imperative to record EVERY moment of your child's life. Yes, even if it's not your child's birthday.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the party was over. The kids had the time of their lives running around the soft play area. The husbands were ensconced in the wii media room trying to learn how to street dance. *snicker*

I can't leave London without getting my noodle fix. You know you've come to the right place when the Vietnamese restaurant is packed with mostly Asians. The queue was out the door. The service is quick, the food is faultless and the drinks are divine. What more can I ask for? In case you're interested, this awesome place is called Cafe East.

On Sunday, we went on a brief walk around the city. This awesome place was once a palace built by Christopher Wren for King Charles II.

And came home to see one of Lil L's many love notes she'd left for me.

Pass It Forward: 3 Bloggers

Alexandra Lister of Pirates and Fireflies

I stumbled upon Alexandra's blog - Pirates and Fireflies while I was googling Porselli flats (it's pretty obvious that I'm still afflicted with SOD - Shoes Obsession Disease).  From the moment I read the very first paragraph, I was hooked. I wasn't surprised to learn later that she has an MA in Creative Writing and had contributed to The Guardian Life as well as to other publications. I'm slowly making my way through her entire archive which may take me a few weeks. If you're after an incredibly well written blog which covers travel, lifestyle and plenty of fashion without subscribing to abject consumerism, then this is a must read for you.



Maxwell & Oliver Ryan of Apartment Therapy

The two brothers Maxwell and Oliver Ryan started Apartment Therapy in 2004. The readership is astronomical which has led them to create sister sites devoted to technology, cooking etc. Over the past few years, I've spent many hours picking ideas from various posts on the website.


Julia Rollings of Bittersweet

This story is harrowing, fascinating, riveting and thankfully comes with a happy ending. Julia adopted two little Indian kids - siblings in 1998. In 2006, they found out that the director of the adoption agency was arrested and further investigation revealed that the two children were in fact sold by their father while their mother was asleep. I won't go too much into it because it's a story that you have to read for yourself.