It bags: Are they worth the money?

Hermes Birkin, Hermes Kelly, Chanel flap, Bottega Veneta tote and Loewe tote

Previously, there was the logo mania where people carried their logo laden bags proudly as a symbol status. Think Gucci, Dior, Louis Vuitton. Now the pendulum swung the other way where the most desired bags are devoid of any visible labels yet there are still instantly recognizable. Ever since the black canvas Prada bags hit the stands two decade ago, we've seen the astronomical rise of It bags.

Women who would never ever consider dropping £1K on a piece of clothing would not bat her eyelid on a similarly priced handbag. It doesn't matter if you've binged for a week and now, wearing a pair of designer skinny jeans made your legs look like a couple of chorizos, your handbags love you just the same. Tall, short, fat, thin, normal sized feet, pixie sized feet (moi).... you don't have to worry about all that when you purchase a handbag. Designers caught on to this and made handbags their bread and butter while trying to attract and lure customers to their clothes. Take the rising star, Sophie Hulme who is taking the world by storm with her eye catching handbags but she's a womenswear designer by trade.

My question is are these bags truly worth the money? I've read and heard from friends about their Anya Hindmarch shoulder bag that fell apart with very moderate use in less than a year or the popular Stella McCartney bag with the chain unraveling after 3 wears. The MulberryAlexa bag has nearly doubled its price since its introduction a few years ago despite the fact that the production has since moved to China and Turkey where the labor cost is far lower than in the UK.

The majority of these fashion houses are now owned by conglomerates namely, LVMH, Prada, Richemont and PPR. Only a handful are still privately owned - Chanel by Wertheimer, Armani and Hermes, to a certain degree. There's the urgency of creating the next It bag to drive sales, increase profit and minimize operating costs in order to appease the shareholders. The focus of these luxury conglomerates is predominantly short term rather than long term where quality and maintaining traditional craftsmanship are compromised in the name of profit.

Let's be a little more anal here and talk about the details. To me, details and a good finishing are true indicators of a well made bag. Say, if we place two bags side by side - a Mulberry and a Loewe with the same price point, say, approximately £800. The edges of a Loewe has been sanded down and applied with resin but the surface is smooth to touch unlike the Mulberry bags I'd handled. A leather interior requires more expense and work compared to fabric variety which shockingly even bags above £1100 are lined with these days.

The leather exterior on the newer Balenciaga bags seem so thin and dry, it felt like I was touching a piece of paper. There have been complaints of strap clips on the popular Proenza Schouler PS1 which are too weak to support the bag. I was shocked to see how much the coating  on the hardware wears off despite minimal wear.

Is it unreasonable to expect my expensive designer bags to last at least a decade? I can't forget that gorgeous 30 year old Hermes Kelly I saw at a flea market in Paris in the late 90s. It was a testament to the incredible workmanship and the quality of the leather used at Hermes. The owner, I was told, paid 900 francs (approximately £625 in today's money) in the 60s and sold it to the shop owner for €2500. I've yet to see bags that look that good after being worn nearly everyday for 30 years AND has such a high resale value.

Call me a capitalist if you like but I hate the idea of flushing money down the drain after forking out an exorbitant amount for a consumer product just because it didn't last the distance. I'm feeling rather anti-IT bag these days. Three things come to mind whenever I feel the urge to plonk a hefty sum down - 1) quality of materials   2) workmanship  3) timeless design. So far, only 4 brands come to mind - Hermes, Chanel, Loewe and Bottega Veneta. What are your thoughts on It bags?

Lipstick virgin

I've always been told that the older you are, the less make up one should wear. Since I'm starting from ground zero, being a make up virgin at a grand old age of ........ ahhh.......not-too-old-but-young-at-heart-kind-of-age.... I think it's high time I ramp it up a little. So.... up until last year, I owned one lippy. Yup, one single lipstick. In fact, I've buying the same ol' Twig from MAC for the past 12 years. Now that's what I call minimalism to the core and I don't mean that in a positive way.

This is how I make do with 1 lipstick for that long. I dab it on lightly if I want a no make up, make up look (I've just learned this new term from YouTube so I like saying it whenever I get the chance just to show that I'm cool and pretend that I know what the heck I'm talking about). I apply a thicker coat along with pressed powder and lip liner if I want a matte and darker finish.

Earlier in the year, I decided that I should try a lipstick that doesn't contain any lead and nasty bits. The Bare Minerals lipstick (gelato) proved to be a surprisingly flattering color on my bloodless lips and doesn't have strong scent nor awful taste (not that I eat lipsticks but you know what I mean). It has a subtle pinky but fairly neutral tone with a slight shimmer which enhances your natural lip color (wow, I can't believe I wrote that. I sound like a cosmetic commercial)

And then I saw Sam's bright lipstick. Whoo-eeey, now that's what I call statement lips. I dashed off to the MAC counter at Selfridges but trying to locate a lipstick that's flattering is as difficult as denim shopping. There were 50 million colors with ladies all milling about, pushing and shoving. Furthermore, it's ALWAYS a madhouse at MAC counters and the service is generally pretty patchy. It wasn't until I met one of the sweetest and most patient MAC make up artist at Harrods that I finally found THE ONE - Amorous, a deep fuchsia and plum combination which I love. It has garnered a few compliments which is always a positive sign that I'm on a right track here. Spring, here I come (that is if you EVER get here)!

Gladiators & Ankle Wraps: Splurge vs Steal

photo credit: Tommy Ton

Photo credit: Streetpeeper

I have not worn anything that remotely resembles spring/summer attire nor accessories since last August, thanks to the 6 month long winter we've been having (sorry, still moaning....). To cheer myself up without resorting to drawing pictures of the sun on the wall, I've been glued to the laptop doing some major online window shopping. I've trawled through all the major websites to view the latest spring/summer shoe collections - peep toe, sandals, espadrilles, gladiators (not the Roman human variety), wedges.... you get my drift. Anything to remind me that spring OR summer still exists in this part of the world.

Last year, I became enamored, no obsessed with ankle straps after seeing numerous several year old photos of Sofia Coppola wearing hers. So I began my journey trying to locate  mid heeled ankle strap sandals and it proved to be an impossible task. This year, however, made up for the ankle strap drought. Fast forward to 2013 and it's practically raining ankle strap sandals everywhere. It's all you can find in every High St or departmental store. I scrolled through numerous shopping websites only to have to sift through several hundred versions of ankle straps in varying height and color.

Perhaps it's an overexposure to ankle strap because I'm increasingly drawn to gladiator heels now. The two styles are polar opposites. One's subtle, quietly elegant and unobtrusive. The other one can be classified as bada$$, in your face, LOUD and eye-catching. It's a bit like comparing Sofia Coppola with Kim Kardashian. I'm channeling the former in real life but my alter ego demands a little of KK at times.

1. Giuseppe Zanotti  2. See by Chloe  3. Givenchy (or this)  4. Kurt Geiger  5. Halogen  6. Kat Maconie  7. Sam Edelman (Global here)

I still love the idea of strutting my stuff (whatever that's left of it) in 3" heels but I had to ditch the idea when I had sharp pain shooting up my sports battered ankle whilst trying on the most gorgeous gladiator booties last week. Bummer. Siiiigggh. As my fellow gym attendee told me recently, it all starts to go downhill at 40 (he's in his 30s and had no idea I'm approaching the big 4-0). Thanks, bud. I'll remember you in my next life.

Some of you already know that when I'm buying a pair of pants, I do the "squat test"  in the fitting room. Like the squatting exercises you do in the gym. Or when you have the unfortunate experience of using the public (squatting) toilets in Malaysia. It's to make sure that my butt crack ain't showing, the seams don't split and the belly doesn't spilleth over (aahh....sorry for the visual). As for shoes, I do the "London test". If I'd survived 7 hours of traipsing around the streets (cobbled, paved) of London without a blister in sight, only then would these shoes be deemed comfortable. Needless to say, I'm still sticking to chunky heels, wedges or anything that sticks close to the ground until my lifestyle changes (being chauffeured driven, the 7 year old can fly to school and I don't have to chase her.....etc etc).

Pass It Forward: 3 Fashion Documentaries

 Click here to watch the documentary, Hermes Hearts and Crafts: The People Who Made Hermes

Click here to watch Lagerfeld Confidential

Click here to watch Carine Roitfeld: The Client

I'll keep the post short and sweet as the documentaries are long. My first love is Hermes. I love everything about my Kelly and Birkin (despite the fact that I don't ever use the latter). I love that the leather was carefully chosen and that the bags were handmade from start to finish by a single artisan. I love the exquisite workmanship, the smooth resin along the top, the beautiful pebbled grains on the Togo leather or the smoothness and shiny surface of the goatskin, the sometimes uneven white stitching along the seams to the little marks that I'd made from carrying the bags.The little imperfections made them perfect in my eyes.

The same applies to Chanel jackets. I've dreamt of owning the little black jacket from Chanel for years. Perhaps I'm older now and prefer quality over quantity or maybe I'm a mom.The idea of lovingly using and preserving these exquisite beauties and passing them to my daughter when she's older really appeals to me.

Hope you enjoy the videos!

** A HUGE thank you to Avril of School Gate Style for the feature on Britsmum and Fauxionista for the wonderful write up. Merci!

A healthier take on Victoria Sponge Cake

Those of you who follow me on Instagram would know that I had to sit for a "Living in the UK" test a few weeks ago in order to complete our settlement visa application (or known as Green Card in the U.S). After a 24 hour cramming session (I'm a lazy student despite my age), I now know interesting facts such as a third of the UK population have experimented with drugs (I'm rather sheltered and gullible so eyes literally bulged when I read this. Really??!!) to the percentage of "oriental" population residing in the UK (I've always thought I'm categorized as an Asian but that actually refers to Indians/Pakistanis/Bangladeshis. Just in case you're interested, it's 0.4%. Miniscule. Ant sized minority. Non existent. Let's breed like rabbits to get the ratio up).

Now what's that got to do with the Victoria sponge cake, I hear you ask. Well, the truth is I've never ever tasted this traditional British cake up until recently. I've lived here for nearly 5 years yet not a single morsel has passed through my lips. I thought about buying one from a store but the list of ingredients was enough to appall me. Now that my metabolic rate has practically grinds to a halt and I loathe saccharine sweet desserts anyway, I try to reduce sugar and replace white flour whenever I can. Besides, I'm a mom. When you feed little kids sweets, they sprout horns and run amok.

This recipe literally takes minutes to whizz up..... meaning, you chuck all the ingredients into the mixing bowl, whizzzzzzz and plonk it into the oven. I made this recently for a dinner party and the practically orgasmic feedback meant that it was a winner. The sponge is moist and melt in your mouth buttery goodness and goes fabulously with  strawberries and cream.





Ingredients:

Sponge

165g caster sugar
200g softened butter
200g light brown self raising flour (or if you prefer, white)
1 tsp baking powder
4 small/medium eggs or 3 large eggs
2 tbsp milk


Filling
A handful of fresh strawberries
Approximately 175g of soft strawberry jam/preserve
2 drops of vanilla extract
225ml double cream






1. Preheat oven to 190˚C. Butter and line 2 sandwich tins with baking parchment paper.
2. Dump all the ingredients for sponge in a large mixing bowl and whiz in a processor or with a mixer.
3. Divide the batter equally between 2 tins.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until sponge is golden. Put on the cooling rack to cool.
5. Slice the strawberries and put to one side. Put the double cream in a large mixing bowl and add a couple drops of vanilla extract. Beat till the cream is thick.
6. You can slice the top of one cake to make it even or leave it as it is. Slater the top of one sponge with cream. Place slices of strawberries on top of the cream. Spread the strawberry jam.
7. Sandwich the second sponge on top of the filling.
8. Devour.

**you can reduce or increase the of filling depending on your taste. There's no hard and fast rule as it largely depends on your preference.

Chanel Tweed Jacket

Outfit: Chanel tweed jacket, Alexander Wang t-shirt, Chanel glasses, Chanel timeless clutch, Zara boyfriend jeans and Louboutin peep toe heels (similar here).

Looking at the first photo, you're probably fooled into thinking that spring has finally arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere. Hah! The weather forecast for April is rain, rain and more rain with the temperature hovering around the single digit (celsius).  I wanted to cheer myself up by wearing a spring jacket. It didn't matter I was drenched thanks to the continuous downpour (noticed my sleeked back sexy hairstyle?) and I was seriously under-dressed while my friend, Christy who was taking my photos was all wrapped up nice and cozy in a thick woolen coat. Oh well, at least I was wearing a Chanel tweed jacket albeit for a brief moment just to remind myself that spring time still exists in my part of the world.

I've harbored a decade long obsession with Chanel jackets. It all started with their 2.55 flap which is probably on the top of most women's wish list. One day, out of the blue, I was invited to a private Chanel fashion show. There were no more than a handful of guests in a luxurious house located in one of the most exclusive suburbs in Auckland. The models were wearing the most exclusive RTW Fall/Winter collection. It wasn't like a madhouse compared to the circus that ensues during LFW or NYFW these. The models walked up to the guests and explained about the fabrics. We touched and oohed and aahed over the exquisite workmanship. I fell in love with Chanel RTW that day despite not being able to afford it.

Furthermore, the ladylike tailored jackets are the antithesis of my tomboyish and clumsy self. Now that I'm older and am happier to throw caution to the wind, I prefer to pair mine with ripped jeans and a pair of badass heels but until such time I find those said shoes, I'm going to stick to the painful Louboutins. I love that you could alter a Chanel jacket a couple of sizes up or down and there's the little chain that runs along the hem so that the jacket drapes better. Over the years, I was lucky to find vintage Chanel jackets in thrift and consignment shops whenever I traveled. To my regret, I've gotten rid of all of them years ago thinking that they were too "vintage". I still dream of finding THE perfect Chanel black jacket. One day........  How do you wear your tweed jackets? Better still, do share and wax lyrical about any Chanel jackets you own. There's nothing better than raiding someone's amazing wardrobe - virtually.

Pass It Forward: 3 Bloggers

I'm often left in awe of personal style bloggers. I just don't know how they do it. Outfits are planned well in advance, hair done to perfection and make up is immaculately applied. I'm lucky if I brushed my hair in any of the selfie shots. Doing my hair means swiveling my head from side to side vigorously so that it falls "naturally". Make up's completely foreign to me. I've progressed from joining dots along my eyelid (we're talking about eyeliner here) to drawing a jagged line (no artistic talent whatsoever and that includes drawing a straight line).

I'm wearing track pants, sweatshirt and trainers as I'm typing out this post. My only saving grace is they're skinny track pants from Petit Bateau, my well worn sweatshirt is from Isabel Marant and the trainers add 3 inches to my height.


Heather Fonseca of The Style Confessions



Heather is not just a style blogger, she's a mom, wife and fashion designer for teen fashion dolls. She graduated with a major in fashion design and interned at Cerutti 1881 before working for Mattel. What initially attracted me to her blog was the vast fashion tips she freely shared with readers including the angst surrounding fashion bloggers. It's never boring, sometimes thought provoking and always honest. Her warmth and sincerity reel you in. It's as if you're having a conversation with a close friend.



Wendy Gilmour of Thankfifi




I met Wendy at the London Fashion Week as we waited to get into a fashion show. She regaled us with hilarious anecdotes about being photographed outside the shows. The stylish Glaswegian's street style outfits were posted on Vogue, Elle, Refinery 29 etc etc. She's warm, down to earth, funny AND looks like a model. Sometimes life just isn't fair. Her fashion accessory is her dog but to be perfectly honest, her dashing and stylish husband (who's also her photographer) is a top contender as well.



Margot of You Make Fashion




Margot is a Parisian these days but she was born in Biarritz. She started this blog a few years ago to document her move to London. Her blog is written in her native tongue so if your French sucks the way mine does, you'll need to use google translate.  You Make Fashion is a feast for the eyes, utterly charming and fascinating. It's not strictly personal style per se as she also covers DIYs (i.e. how to make leather "paper" bag), eating places in Paris, fashion events and much much more.

10 minute Fruit Tartlet

 


This is essentially cheating but hey, no one will know if you don't confess your culinary sins. It's not so much making as it is assembling all the ingredients together which literally takes 10 minutes. That is, unless you want to dip into your creative juices and come up with masterpieces on the shortcrust pastry. The little tartlets are impressive, a sure way to wow the crowd with little effort. Most importantly, the sweetness of the strawberries complement beautifully with the vanilla whipped cream and buttery goodness of the pastry.

As you can tell from the photos, I lack the artistic DNA and ended up plonking pieces of strawberries on top of the cream. I'm sure you can do a far better job. I've also made this with store bought chocolate mousse and plums. You won't even need to whip anything and there's less washing to do. The trick is to find good pastry cases (mine's from Marks and Spencer) and really fresh and crisp fruit.


 




Ingredients:

Ready made shortcrust pastry tartlet cases (get the ones made of butter instead of margarine)
Double cream for making whipped cream
A drop or two of vanilla extract (optional but oh so good if you added it)
Strawberries (or blueberries, raspberries etc )

1. Pour a drop or two of vanilla extract into the cream. Whip the double cream in a large bowl until it's thick but not too long that it turns into butter.

2. Scoop a spoonful of cream into a case. Level it with a butter knife. Arrange whatever fruit you're using on top of it.

3. You can garnish it with a mint leaf or a sprinkling of icing sugar.

4. Devour and congratulate yourself for eating a healthy diet (aka fruits).

A Birthday & A Gastronomic Adventure in London

Cutie Pie


I once asked Lil L and her friend who they thought was the scariest mom they'd ever encountered. They immediately pointed to me. Geeeeezzz! Honesty is over-rated. Anyways.... being the scary mother (Asian tiger mom yada yada yada) that I am, I gave my precious and only child a couple of options to celebrate her birthday.

Thankfully, she didn't go down the birthday party route because dealing with 20 squealing divas ain't the way I imagine spending my precious weekend. Instead, we had one of the most amazing weekends in London watching the Lion King, catching up with her godparents (self professed scary mom number 2) who are one of our closest friends and their gorgeous cutie pie as well as eating our way from one end of London to the other (okay, it's an exaggeration but I've now ditched my skinny jeans in place of track pants). Lil L declared it was the best birthday ever.

First stop: The Breakfast Club situated in the heart of the famous Spitalfields. It's unpretentious, kitschy, gimmicky, noisy, wannabe American type restaurant that served okay food. The service is excellent and the queue stretched right out to the street. There's a cool Smeg fridge door which is in fact a real door that takes you downstairs to a nightclub.

 

Princi

We dashed off to the Lyceum Theater just in time to watch the Lion King which was truly a spectacular performance. I dragged the hubs and Lil L off to Soho to taste the best ramen noodles in town (Bone Daddies Ramen Bar). They admitted the noodles were good enough to knock their socks off. We wandered down Wardour St in search of a birthday cake. As always, there was a queue to get into Princi, a popular Milanese bakery/pizzeria which has spilled outside to the pavement. We grabbed a couple of rolls and vowed to visit again one day.





Next Stop: Hummingbird Bakery. I've resisted buying their cookbook thinking it was yet another Magnolia Bakery knock off. I'm no cupcake fan but their red velvet cake was seriously moist, scrumptious and to die for but not sickeningly sweet. I'm one of those weird individuals who scrape icing off the cake but their cream cheese icing was delicious.





I managed to snag a cheap last minute room at an Ibis hotel near our friends' apartment. Get this, £49 for the 3 of us! My father was utterly convinced it would be a rat infested hole. It couldn't be further from the truth. The room was sparkling clean and new. It was also a 3 minute walk to the DLR train station. I'm not all that fussed about hotel rooms as long as the location's good and the room's clean. We headed out the next morning to a local church and bumped into a friend that I haven't seen in 20 years (hi there, Eileen!).

Ever since I read about Honest Burgers from Fleurette, I've been itching to check it out. Funnily enough, Fleurette was wondering whether I'd made it there last weekend. Now that's what I call foodie telepathy! Before I bit into their massive burger, I knew it'd be a good one just by looking at their plates. Hah! You thought I was going to say something intelligent like the beef came from cows which had daily massages, ate organic grass and hay and slept in a cow hotel. No. They use Falcon enamelware which is exactly what I've switched to these days. The rosemary fries were soooooo soooooo good. So was the coleslaw.


Lil L's godmother and I attempted to take a photo together and was photobombed by an elf in a grey coat.


Next shot with the said elf was a little better.

Outfit: Christys' fedora, Alexander Wang t-shirt, Etoile Isabel Marant Kady jacket (similar here), James Jeans Twiggy, The Kooples trainers (similar here), Louis Vuitton leopard stole and Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere 35cm

My Etoile Isabel Marant Kady leather jacket was a godsend this winter. I've worn it non-stop as it's roomy enough to wear a few layers underneath without looking like a puffer fish. The temperature dropped drastically on Sunday and snowstorm was in the horizon. To top it off, I'd forgotten to bring my sweater as well. Thankfully, the jacket acted like a windproof outerwear despite wearing only a thermal vest and a thin Alexander Wang t-shirt underneath.




By the time we staggered off in search of another warm cafe, we were too full to eat anything else including those luscious, mouthwatering sweet delights and only managed a hot drink.


**Please excuse the quality of the photos. These were all taken using my Samsung Galaxy Note phone as my camera battery died on me.




The Breakfast Club
12-16 Artillery Lane
London E1 7LS
Tube: Liverpool St


Bone Daddies Ramen Noodle Bar
30-31 Peter Street 
London W1F0AR
Tube: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus

Princi 
135 Wardour St
London W1F 0UT
Tube: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus

Hummingbird Bakery
155a Wardour St
London W1F 8WG
Tube: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus

Honest Burgers
4A Meard St
London W1F 0EF
Tube: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus
 

Notes from a Mother

Motherhood or should I say, parenthood in this increasingly preposterous politically correct world, is an all encompassing adventure and a lifestyle change. You will now divert all your attention to your mini me who only thinks of herself. If it's a baby boy, you'll soon be considered a pro at strategic nappy changing in a bid to avoid being the unfortunate victim of the Pee Fountain (rather than the more glamorous Trevi Fountain). Instead of testing out the most volumizing and eyelash lengthening mascara in the market, you consider it a triumphant moment if you made it out of your house looking somewhat disheveled but you congratulate yourself because you have achieved what is otherwise known in the fashion world as nonchalant careless/effortless style a la Kate Moss.

You update your Facebook and gush to all your friends and family when your baby takes her first step. What an achievement! A miracle! (Cue all the secret eye rolling going on in the background from your childless friends) You videotape your child's piano recital/ballet/football/tennis etc. Because you're internet savvy these days, you upload it onto YouTube, Facebook, Vine..... oh what the heck, might as well pin it on Pinterest and tweet to all your followers. Meanwhile, your friends felt obliged to leave vacuous comments (cue more eye rolling).

Your child runs to you with a piece of drawing. *Repeat the social media updates. Oh. My. God. My child is a frigging genius. The next Picasso. Oh wait, he was too screwed up and sexually depraved. Perhaps, a Damien Hirst in the making. At least he has plenty of interns to help him glue the diamonds onto a skull. Meanwhile, you've signed up for Baby Gym, Baby massage, Jo Jingles, swimming etc..... to "stimulate" your child's brain. God forbid, the human evolution didn't equip us with enough brain cells.

You meet up with fellow moms. You talk about your child. Her sleep pattern. In detail. Her food intake. In detail. You moan about the lack of help you're getting from your husband. You feel like a cow aka milk machine. Wait a minute. You ARE a cow.  Literally. There's practically no difference between the cows standing in the shed having their milk pumped out and you doing the same with a breast pump when you're not breastfeeding.

All joking aside. Motherhood is singularly the most frustrating and difficult journey yet it is also the most rewarding experience of your lifetime. To all the moms out there, give yourself a pat on the back. To all the ladies who are thinking of jumping onto the bandwagon, I hope I haven't scared you. My only advice to you is.....repeat after me......epidural (it's a miracle drug).

Happy Mother's Day!

Pass It Forward: 3 Bloggers

I read A LOT of blogs. And I do mean A LOT in order to find 3 gold mines every Friday (okay, I've missed a few Fridays. Sorrrrrry!!). I can't physically comment on all of them but one thing's for sure, there's an incredible pool of talent in the blogosphere. The mind boggles when I think how these so called ordinary women go to their day job, an occupation which couldn't be more unrelated to the kind of incredible work they're dishing out on their blog. It just goes to show that there are a lot of you out there with exceptional hidden talents.


Megan of Pretty in Pink Megan

All of sudden, I was seeing a spike in traffic to my blog. It all pointed back to Megan. And then I started trawling through her website. Ahh....the Goyard. Her outfits. I want her fur vest too. The Saint Laurent duffle bag. Nooooooo..... (getting heart palpitation as I'm writing this. Purse addicts will understand my feelings perfectly). And suddenly, it occurred to me that we're on the same wavelength. All my heart's desires are featured on her blog. Megan lives in Memphis, US and deems herself as a southern belle.

Not to sound stalkerish or anything but check out that beautiful ginger hair of hers (I've always wanted ginger hair) and peaches and cream complexion. Le sigh. Guess the grass is green on the other side (or redder).



C of Aesthetical Alterations

C is an editor as well as a talented photographer whose work is sold in galleries. She is also a walking encyclopedia of anything Hermes, a Church's brogue and DvF wrap dress devotee.

I've known C since our Purse Forum years where our obsession for all things Hermes was first ignited and sad to say, shows no sign of abating. After a flurry of emails last year, we were both bummed when we realized that we missed each other in Paris by 1 day. 1 measly day. Oh well, C, you'll have to make your way back to Paris again. We'll probably need an entire day to catch up seeing that we have so much to talk about.



Lizzie Garrett Mettler of Tomboy Style

Lizzie's blog, Tomboy Style is a fascinating read, one that grips your attention immediately and before you know it, an hour flew past. She's a journalist by trade and has just recently published her book, Tomboy Style: Beyond the boundaries of fashion which is based on her blog. It covers an array of topics from fashion to lifestyle to interviews. A word of warning: it's addictive.

In Lust with Longchamp Le Pliage

Longchamp le Pliage Large Shopper with Hermes Birkin 30 and Hermes Kelly 28

I have a love affair with designer handbags. It's pretty obvious if you've been reading my blog for a while. I scrimped and saved for my first Hermes bag.  
Fact 1. My Birkin costs more than my "vintage" car (left it unlocked once and no one tried to steal it. That said a lot about my car).  
Fact 2. It's so impractical that I use it as a decoration piece in my glass cabinet. 
Fact 3.  A Longchamp le Pliage shopper was purchased in the interest of protection and preservation of the hugely expensive bag. Besides, it's waaaay more chic than popping your expensive designer bag in a supermarket plastic bag when it pours. Which happens everyday here in England. Like today. And tomorrow. All 3 facts point to signs of insanity.

On my visits to Paris, I noticed that the locals are HUGE fans of Longchamp. Not Hermes. Not Louis Vuitton with its flashy logos. Not even Celine.They're all toting around the affordable, chic, practical and understated Longchamp. So was I. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Paris.... you get the drift.



Here's an old photo of my bulging le Pliage aka overnight carryall when I hopped on the Eurostar with a friend to attend the Hermes sale. The guard at the border control was incredulous when I told him that this was my "suitcase". I dared him to make a snide sexist remark. Being a smart man that he was, he resisted the urge.

Here's a little secret if you plan to attend the sale. All the attendees have smartened to the fact that if you carry an Hermes bag into the venue, you'll end up having to sign a document while everyone raced ahead of you. Or face being trampled to death. So....if you're an old hand at the sale, you'll carry this foldable tote and pop another bigger version in your bag for your purchases.




And here's me looking rather disheveled and sheepish having to snap a shot right after a school run. Just in case you're wondering, it's my friend, Christy's. I couldn't decide whether the small, medium or large le Pliage cuir suited me best. This is the medium which easily fits my laptop and Hermes bags.

A HUGE thank you to my dear friend Sam for featuring me on her blog. I'm beyond flattered. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The Shopping Dilemma

Each time I cull and edit my wardrobe, it occur to me that I still need to fill in a few necessary gaps in my wardrobe, namely basics such as a pair of black ankle boots, waterproof parka etc. I've been buying and returning as they either don't fit well or looked utterly unflattering when I tried it on at home. After a few emails back and forth with my shopping other half, Laura, I'm beyond relieved to know that I'm not alone. Here's Laura's dilemma.

The PIECE 

And forsaking all most others to obtain it?

Every year around the A/W fashion week(s) something happens to me. I watch replays of the shows. I comb the hallows of the Barneys or Matches or Nordstrom websites. I cyber-stalk Garance Dore’ and blog after blog and I see it. No, IT. IT could very well be that perfect Balenciaga Military wool coat or Burberry treasure that I’d reach for again and again for something close to forever. IT could be a stunning sweater with a beautiful detail. Or a sublime Phillip Lim jacket or Stella M. navy blazer. It could also be a shoe or a boot. Or a....

Yeah, you get it. But every year, I start looking at price tags and I give up. Since I don’t have the last name Hilton or Ecclestone or the shopping budget that comes with it, 

I usually move on. But I don’t forget!

This year, something called the Chloe Susanna boot hit me square in the jaw.

Chloe Susanna (Global here)

Although it was re-released more than a few months ago, this is the current IT. This is the PIECE.

It possesses game-changing super powers, a low (Laura friendly) heel, a leg lengthening fit but..... also a price tag FAR above what I’d normally spend on a shoe. It sits there in my mind, waiting to be filed away like all of the other previous PIECES. But then I realized something. 

 I’m gonna get real and show you what less than 2 months of shopping trips have yielded and some things I was ready and willing to pounce on:

A pair of black Pedro Garcia Kitten heel sandals

A Marc By Marc Jacobs navy shift dress

Sam Edelman nude wedges

A black and white ALC cardigan      returned

A pair of Paige gray jeans  - returned (I have enough jeans already and the fit wasn’t perfect)

The navy Kenzo snow leopard sweater I’m about/was about to buy

The Isabel Marant Noah sweatshirt I pick up and put back every time I walk past it. But keep picking up!

The probably 3-4 J Crew pieces like button-down shirts or cute cardigans or various things with stripes I’d normally buy

Stuff on SALE. This or that from Hautelook or Rue-LA LA  emails, random trendy statement “stuff” from Zara and H&M that satisfy temporary cravings but don’t have any real staying power in my closet.

And so on.

Sam Edelman Serena Wedges

When I added all of this up, it’s well above the price of the PIECE. I’m keeping the Marc dress and Sam Edelman shoes because they fill a real need. But, I realized that if I took back the cute Pedro sandals (that I sort of, cough cough, have something similar to already in my closet) and quit impulse buying and collecting and re-buying multiple upon multiple versions of things I already own, I could swing the boots. 

Dare I say, easily?

Even though I’m pretty careful about purchases, I could be more careful. I could be smarter. I could stay out of Nordstrom for awhile! And I could wait and save and save a a little more and come home with the Chloe boots that only require the simple wardrobe accompaniments I already own six times over!

I could also make this more of a habit and actually purchase that gorgeous investment coat for next fall that I say I’m always going to buy. 

Am I crazy here? Can I really do this? Can I really pare down and stick to the things that  I really need or that really stir my heart? 

What do you guys think? Have you ever given it all, or most of it up for the sake of one piece? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Meanwhile, I’ll be in the return line.

by LAURA

Multi-Purpose Mini Bags

It occurred to me recently as I was getting ready to go for a walk with a friend that I don't have a single mini bag. A clutch, yes but can you see me in rugged boots, parka and a clutch while wading through muddy country lanes? Yeah, neither can I. I ended up tucking bank cards, money, cellphone and tissues in every pocket available on my jacket and I looked like I was ready for warfare.

As I was chatting to my friend, S, she jumped up and dashed off to her bedroom to get her Chanel WOC. Just in case if you're wondering whether WOC stands for a type of Water Closet as I did previously, it actually means Wallet On Chain. This got me thinking. Wouldn't it be neat if I have a mini bag that I can wear cross body or perhaps just sling it over my shoulder but also doubles as a clutch in the evening?

In this economy, I want to get more bang for my dollar. I'd much rather have a bag that works hard for me than one that sits pretty in my closet which is the case at the moment. Why collect souvenirs when I'm traveling if I can just use my Chanel Timeless Clutch or the White Blue Elephant (aka blue Hermes Birkin) as decoration?



1. Mulberry Lily  2. Chanel WOC  3. Celine Trio  4. Coach Legacy Penny  5. Sophie Hulme Mini Envelope

After seeing the resale value of numerous It bags plummet to a mere fraction of its retail price (remember Fendi Baguette, Chloe Paddington etc?), I'm far more careful when purchasing a bag now. I prefer to stick to something that's classy, understated and timeless. That means, as little embellishment as possible. I popped into a Chanel boutique in the weekend to check out their range of WOCs . Sadly, the caviar leather version is out of stock but the rouge lambskin version has my name all over it.

Both  Sophie Hulme Mini Envelope and Coach Legacy Penny come with a detachable strap and are ridiculously good value for money considering the excellent workmanship. I asked a Grazia editor about her bright emerald green Coach Legacy Penny which she wore to the London Fashion Week. She adored it and the green was a nice pop of color in contrast to the appallingly grey winter we've had so far.

I get a little weak in the knees each time I see someone with a Celine Trio. After having seen a few up close and spoken to numerous fashionistas about the bag, the Celine Trio which is far cheaper than the Mini Luggage Tote, is definitely right up there on top of my wish list. Decisions, decisions. What do you think, ladies? Which would you go for?