New York Minute Part 4: Shopping the Big Apple

I'm proud of myself. I didn't burn a hole in my pocket in New York. I guess the consolation for having a short trip there is that the limited amount of time available for my free and easy excursion also limited the opportunities for me to swipe the plastic. But since not buying anything at all for remembrance sake while traveling is bordering on being illegal, I did what I consider as minimal damage. If you're hoping to see truckloads of shopping, then I'm sorry as this post is probably gonna be a let down because I'm proud to announce that I'm really a reformed shoppaholic.

Anyhow, you might have already seen the limited edition Tsumori Chisato for Laduree candle in my previous post and just because you asked nicely, here's the rest of my haul. Nothing crazy.

The first few things I bought ended up in my stomach as they were a couple of cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. After Magnolia and with one cupcake in one hand, another in my mouth and teeth stained with chocolate, I stomped my way to Satya Jewelry at West Village down Bleecker Street between Christopher Street and 10th Street. Viola! I got myself the turquoise Rest Assured Bracelet from their Spring 2012 collection with a delicate gold plated chain and lotus design printed on a small disc.

Satya Jewelry has been a favorite since I saw it being featured in Yoga Journal 8 years ago or so. What I love about the brand is that on top of beautiful jewelry, they're a philanthropic organization with The Satya Foundation , donating part of their profit to children around the world. Their creations combine colorful semi-precious stones with sacred symbols (like the Om, lotus, Star of David etc) and clean lines for a collection of classic elegant jewelries you can wear individually or in layers. I'm a sucker for stackable jewelries and Satya has been doing them way before the whole layering craze started. With my new resolution to spend wisely, I had a major battle trying to pick just one thing to buy. Such first world pain! Turquoise tends to win in any semi-precious stones contest due to my affinity with it. So a turquoise bracelet it was and how I love it.

If there's one shop in New York I could have in Singapore, it would be the Whole Food Market. Selling all things organic and wholesome, Whole Food Market is one of my favorite spots in NYC where you can pick up organic everything, from fresh produce, prepared food (like salads and such), flowers, toiletries and home stuff. It's essentially a giant organic supermarket and I took the opportunity to pick up some organic toiletries which are slightly cheaper in the US.

• Suki Body Velvet Moisturizing Cream
• Burt's Bees Radiance Night Cream
• Aubrey's Organic Moisturizing Mask with Sea Buckthorn and Cucumber
• Hemp Organics Lip Tint in Wine

Oops spot the odd one out! Yes, Nars Blusher in Orgasm was bought from the Sephora along Broadway. It's not clean make up as it's not organic but then I made an exception as it really is one of my favorite blushes. A corny friend said I "went down Broadway and bought myself some orgasm"....not funny.

Then here's the "other people's stuff" with chocolates for the office from the iconic fine food purveyor Dean & Deluca. Their SOHO flagship outlet at 560 Broadway is absolutely amazing with the best of everything you can get from a premium grocer. It would probably be the last time I need to buy Dean & Deluca's products from New York or their outlets in other countries cos Dean & Deluca is coming to Singapore this June. Amazeballs! I can't wait!

Yes that's very much it. Okay, I also bought quite a bunch of work out clothes from Lululemon which isn't shown here but it wasn't even that much to begin with. Many of my friends were surprised by my ability to restrain myself. Impressed much?

Arm Party Additions

It's a fact that my recent trip to Hong Kong was historical because I bought the least amount of things, but truth be told, I still bought some. Just that it was nothing like how it was in the past where I bought so much I needed to buy a new suitcase type of scenario. Some of my very few loots are these lovely arm candy to add on to my arm party from a hole-in-a-wall shop called Amelie from a out-of-the-way mall in the faraway Yuen Long. I just happen to love the shop cos they do such lovely accessories that I'll make a pilgrim trip to this accessories treasure trove every time I get back to dim sum land.

I just love these ones cos they're simple and perfect for stacking into an arm party. The best part is that they're super affordable, retailing at about 20 bucks SGD each. Love them to bits!

With the success of minimal shopping in Hong Kong came the maximum challenge of minimal shopping for my impending trip to New York City this Sunday. The Big Apple's insane network of 468 train stations is a piece of cake. Navigating the urban jungle is potentially my super power, but resisting all the cool stuff in the 9 million cool shops in NYC might just be my Kryptonite. Going to NYC is not in line with my consumerism reformation! Resistance might really be futile but I would try! Excitement!

The long and short of Louboutins

I've done what most Louboutin fans would consider silly. I got a pair of Louboutin ballet flats! Courtesy of the generous Mr Bear!

I hear protests from Loubie fans with stilt-walking super powers saying "But what's the point of wearing Louboutins if they're not heels cos you can't see the red lacquered soles when you walk?" Because I'm a real Louboutin fan who, unfortunately, can't walk in her Bianca (though I can navigate better and not trip, fall and break my nose with the Yolanda sling backs). Because I think wearing gorgeous heels that make you walk like you have a rod up yours simply makes you look the opposite of gorgeous. Because I love Louboutins but I love my feet more and don't want ugly painful bunions. Also, because the Louboutin flats are very comfortable!

So here they are! The oh so gorgeous and well made Louboutin ballerines in a versatile gold tone that goes with almost everything! Now I can really say that I can absolutely run after the bus in my Louboutins!

March Muse

Reading: Comics! It's super unlike me to read comics and the last time I read comics was more than 15 years ago. Embarrassingly, I used to totally dig Sailor Moon and I read the comics then (seriously, the comics are much better! No judgement please!). This time, my sister showed me a really funny one called Saint Young Men and I have to read it because it's about Jesus and Buddha coming down to Earth to live as housemates in modern day Tokyo. It's hilarious and I love all the jokes (harmless really!) about these two religious icons. It's so funny I would laugh out loud reading it and I'm hooked. There's a total of seven volumes and I definitely would want all of them. Now I just need to go somewhere to find the rest of the volumes. Wish me luck on that as I have no freaking idea where I can find comic shops these days.

Watching: New Girl with Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day, the quirky school teacher who lives with three other guys as house mates. I love it cos Zooey's my March's girl crush and I started a series after my friend J told me I have to watch it cos he thinks I resemble Jess Day with my weird ass ways. So I downloaded the series out of curiosity and I'm hooked! The season just finished with 14 episodes and I can't wait for the new season to start.

Wearing: Navy blue polka dot skirt from Mango. I love the versatility of a classic polka dot skirt and this Mango one can take me from work (just wear with shirt or a slouchy tank and structured jacket) to weekend (with slouchy tees).

Using: Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner. These certified organic hair products are my all time favorites! Started by Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda (he later left the brand to start Intelligent Nutrients), Intelligent Nutrients does fully organic products using super safe, food grade ingredients. In fact, it's so safe that Horst actually took a swig of their hair spray in his mouth during a press launch as proof of its product safety. Anyhow, this shampoo and conditioner combo is such a winner with super fresh minty feel to leave hair thoroughly clean, soft and shiny. You can also use the shampoo as a body and even face wash as it's super mild! It's a total pleasure using them!

Burt's Bees Radiance Serum. This tiny bottle is jammed packed with the goodness of royal jelly, licorice roots, glycerin and tons of Vitamins (A,C, D & K) and amino acids. It promises to brighten your skin in four weeks and it works. In fact, it's been less than four weeks and I already feel that my skin is more radiant and even-toned. Zit marks also heal faster too! I absolutely adore this one and it's got a very light fluid texture that's quickly absorbed into the skin. You'll need only 2 to 3 drops each application. I highly recommend this one!

Drinking: Lemon Water. This is gonna be a new project. I'm gonna try and drink a glass of warm water every morning with the juice of half a lemon. There are tons of reasons to do so and it's great for health too! Not only does it detox you while packing in all the Vitamin C, it also maintains an alkaline pH environment in the body which is the ideal anti-cancer environment. Now the challenge is to wake up a wee bit early to guzzle down the goodness and that's gonna be a wee bit difficult!

Loving: The Clarisonic Mia! I simply can't gush enough about this little convenient contraption that thoroughly cleanses your skin with sonic vibration. It gives your skin a good micro massage with just a mere one minute a day. I really wish I had bought it earlier and maybe I won't be having so much tiny oily bumps on my forehead which thankfully, are going going gone with the Mia.

The Sakox Lollipop Pen. This is such an "act cute" pen with a fluffy pom pom fur ball but I really couldn't resist when I saw them in City Super in Hong Kong. I get attracted to colourful shiny stuff and I'm glad I got a purple one for myself cos it really brightens up my desk and make it looks all chirpy. It makes perfect gifts for your girl friends too!

Lusting after: The birdie ring from Twinkle Bird it's so cute!! I love all their stuff especially the cloud necklace! Things to collect slowly one by one.

January Muse

Reading: The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide by Francine Jay. I've been on a mission to declutter, downsize and pare down my stuff. When I told my friends I'm gonna TRY to be minimalist, they all burst out laughing, knowing that shopping and buying stuff seems to be my super power. But really, perhaps one of this year's resolutions (I don't do resolutions btw) is to buy very selectively and to give/throw away all the stuff I don't need. This book is awesome as Francine teaches you how to declutter, drilling down to the the psychology of why people hoard their things. I've been decluttering some stuff and I love the feeling of chucking out old stuff and reclaiming space. It's a wake up call that the stuff I chuck out is money too and it's all from my senseless consuming and buying. So from now on, I'm gonna be very selective in the stuff that I get. Wish me luck!

Also reading Time Out Singapore. I check in on Time Out Singapore every now and then to keep up with all the stuff that's happening in this sunny island of durian eaters. Great tips on where to eat, what to see, where to go etc. A must-read if you're bored of your routine and would want something new to do and see.

Watching: Animations from the Ghibli Studio! How I love Hayao Miyazaki's work! My dad started me on it when I was 9 or so when he took me to watch my first Miyazaki cartoon, Laputa, Castle in the Sky. I've been a fan since, with special affinity to Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service because they're my childhood favorites. I've been re-watching Miyazaki animations over the holidays. LOVE them!

Later this month, I'll also be watching Giselle by The Paris Opera Ballet. I can't wait!! And I've got pretty good ticket!

Wearing: Diptyque Do Son Perfume. I got the solid perfume version of this lovely Tuberose scent. Will blog more about it another time. It's super nice and I love the packaging!

Also wearing a lot of my Vamoose necklace. So pretty! Perfect for layering!

Using: The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Cream. I was done with my Ole Henriksen moisturizer and I'm switching a lot of my face and body care to organic stuff. I got The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Cream this time. It smells divine with a nice citrus scent and nice texture that's quickly absorbed. I just started using it for about 2 weeks now. Will blog more about it soon when I can speak more about it, but so far so good.

Drinking: EveryDay Detox tea by Traditional Medicinals. I'm hooked on herbal tea and I'm drinking this one almost everyday. Traditional Medicinals makes really great herbal tea and I've got the night time sleep well tea as well for the occasional insomnia.

Loving: Hardly a sexy thing to love but I must admit I love using the NeilMed Netti Pot. The ceramic netti pot I bought in India broke long time ago and now I've replaced it with a plastic one from NeilMed. It comes with its salt mixture in convenient sachets and it does wonders for my sinus. I rinse my nose every night now. I know it sounds painful and uncomfortable to flush your nostrils but trust me, if you have sinus, this is a god sent! On top of keeping sinus at bay, ancient ayurvedic medicine also says using a netti pot balances the Ida (ying) and Pingala (yang) energy too.

Lusting after: The Dior Oui necklace. I love it. Plain and simple. Oui si vous plait!!

Hello 2012!

Happy New Year! It's 2012 and I declined all party invitations and proudly and unabashedly slept through the whole count down as I always do. I just don't believe in the whole count down party thing as a new year isn't something worth celebrating in my book (unlike say winning the lottery or something like that).

Anyhow, I love the whole festive year end period for the holidays and the much needed break and I got a Happy New Year present from Mr Bear!

Ohh it's a box from Kids 21 and anything from the Club 21 group is good and et viola! Meet my new cuddly friend "Uncle Twinkle" the bunny!

I'm a big kid at heart and I still love my stuffed animals and this super luxurious one from Club 21 is sooo soft! I've always wanted it!

And new year, new stuff. I walked into Massimo Dutti and accident happened.

Bought a pair of super soft ballet flats and two leather bracelets. Nothing like some good old retail therapy to herald in a new year!

Accidental Purchase

I'm very accident prone when it comes to accidentally buying stuff. I was merely accompanying my colleague to Rock Star to get a pair of Toms shoes during lunch today and I walked out with a  river stone and brass necklace from The Vamoose.

The Vamoose pieces are all handmade by brand owner, Kathryn Blackmore, in the UK with natural stones. Awesome designs great for layering! I wish they have more stocks and designs at Rock Star but you can always order online. I might just get the hammered brass necklace too cos it's so pretty!

Marni for H&M

Oh hallelujah! Marni for H&M in March! Overnight queue alert! I hope my buddy still works at H&M next March!

Mid Week Perk Me Up

I accidentally bought a necklace. Technically, this isn't a new necklace because I've had the same necklace in another stone but I lost it and so, I'm REPLACING it. So again, technically, I didn't really buy stuff, I merely replaced. 

 

To say that I've had a crazy week would be an understatement considering I was so busy I didn't have time to pee till 4pm on Monday. The crazy week would be spilling over to the weekend too as I have the misfortune of being mobilized at work this Saturday. Pretty full on for the second week of my new gig. Right at the deep end of the pool but I'm actually swimming fine! Despite the ridiculous rush and madness, I'm thriving on the adrenaline rush cos time passes real fast! Before you know it, it's time to go home! So I deserve a necklace! 

And hello my jade Healing Gem necklace from Dogeared, one of my favorite brands of affordable accessories from the US. I love it's super simple with just a drop of jade (available in many other stones as well as in sterling silver too). Perfect for layering but it's equally beautiful when it's worn alone too. I had so much problem sticking to just buying one but the green and gold combination makes it pop. 

 

The number one peril of working in town is compulsive shopping! What was supposed to be an innocent trip to follow my colleague to pick up something ended up with me getting a new Dogeared necklace. I'll need to be a hell lot more disciplined these days. Wish me luck!

Jason Wu for Target

“My muses are always unexpected, a little whimsical. A model, or even a cat.”

Target's collaboration with Jason Wu has got me a bit giddy! I want! Mr Bond would approve! Happy Friday! Hello weekend!

Bag to Basics

Blame it on Carrie Bradshaw who started the IT bag trend in Sex & The City with what was possibly the first glorified IT bag, aka the Fendi Baguette. Suddenly, bags have become as important and essential an accessories as weird outfit is to Lady Gaga.

After the Baguette went stale, its successor, the Fendi Spy Bag, hogged the limelight, until the long reigning IT Bag, the Balenciaga Motorcycle bags deck the arms of every celebrities and IT girl wannabes worldwide. Then Chanel gave their classic 2.55 a new lease of life in 2005 with the 2.55 Reissue and celebrities, socialites and the plebs alike raid the Chanel stores, wanting a piece of it. The Mulberry Alexa has been a recent IT favourite that literally turned the Mulberry around and sent their profit rising.Thus is the power of the IT bags!

Many IT bags and hefty credit card bills later, I found myself lusting after the Celine Luggage Tote in Mini Size and in red. None is available. All out of stock. Please be on the waiting list (Tsk...how vulgar!). I've heard how some people would fight over it or harass the shop assistants just to land themselves a piece. I've personally seen how a rude local socialite publicly humiliated the shop assistant for not reserving one for her. A couple of friends trawl sites after sites day-in day-out from Bergdorf, Neiman Marcus to Saks hoping to find one. Much as I'm amazed by the effort put in to scoring an IT bag, I'm equally put off by it. After all, if you devote the same amount of energy you have for the Celine to helping in a soup kitchen, there will be a hell lot less people starving. It's really just a bag, or "a piece of stitched together animal hide" that my friend Ah Meow would aptly put it.

So my operation to score the Celine Luggage Tote has been aborted. If it happens, then good, but no more searching for it. Meanwhile, to satisfy my hunger for a new bag (I haven't bought one since my Balenciaga last December),  I'm now going back to basic, exploring non-IT bags that are just as beautiful and with good craftsmanship.And here comes the French and English Confectionery - A couture accessories shop created by Cordwainer-trained designer/maker, Lucie, who specialises in handmade leather bags and shoes. All in very affordable prices.

Expertly handmade in small quantities in a secret London workshop (ohh, don't you just love anything secretive?), Lucie's bags feature clean classic lines inspired by her 1970s childhood. The designs are basic and evergreen with excellent leather and craftsmanship. I treated myself to a small yellow patent leather sling satchel with scallop edges.

The perfect weekend bag. It even holds my Kindle.

See how even the stitching is?

I love it so much! The stitches are perfect and you can see how they are carefully made with no frays. It's just the right size for all your basic essentials, perfect for the weekend when you want to go hands-free without lugging a bigger bag. The fact that it's handmade by one person makes it extra special, it's a little like the equivalent of provenance of art pieces.

If this has tickled your fancy in getting yourself one, they do have an Etsy outlet you can check out on.

The Fight Against Fakes

"Chanel-inspired bag". "Celine-inspired Luggage Tote". "Marc Jacobs-inspired tops". Designer-inspired this, branded-replica that. It's the fight against the fakes. "Inspired" seems to be the new clever lingo for counterfeit designer knockoffs that are aplenty in many online shops and actual boutiques alike. My vocal condemnation of buying designer knockoffs has earned me the title of being a snob but I don't care, because it disgusts me.

Photo credit: AP Images/Bebeto Matthews

It disgusts me not because I'm a luxury snob whose favourite pastime is labeling people who buy and use designer knockoffs as cheap. It disgusts me because these people are actually supporting a vice business of piracy that isn't as simple and harmless as buying a couple of fake designer bags.

People know where to get their fake LVs and Chanels. People also know what's "AA Grade" of counterfeits but what many don't know, however, is where these fake knockoffs come from and how some of these fake stuff have destroyed lives.

With real designer goods, you know they are made in workshops manned by skilled craftsmen or produced in proper factories where staff are paid a decent acceptable wage. Counterfeits, on the other hand, are very often a result of child labour exploitation operated by organized pirate groups.

Dana Thomas, author of the book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster, launched an investigation that unveils the dark and sordid underbelly of the counterfeit trade.


"It is estimated that up to 7 percent of our annual world trade — $600 billion worth — is counterfeit or pirated; that fakes are believed to be directly responsible for the loss of more than 750,000 American jobs; that everything from baby formula to medicine is counterfeited, with tragic results; that counterfeiters and the crime syndicates they work with deal in human trafficking, child labor, and gang warfare; and that counterfeiting is used to launder money, and the money has been linked to truly sinister deeds such as terrorism."


And the more disturbing and heartbreaking fact is found in an excerpt of the book.


"I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags,' an investigator told me... 'The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend. [They] did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play."



The report is ghastly to say the least. Clearly, these are things a lot of fake goods supporters don't know, or so I hope at least. The whole condemnation of fake designer goods is clearly more than a couple of rich snobs slamming fake goods supporters or luxury companies protecting their market share and intellectual properties. By buying designer knockoffs, you're inherently supporting a vicious trade of human exploitation. 


Now, would you still want to call me a snob for despising fake luxury goods? I really hope not. 


Read more here

Lust vs Must

Lust

The Louboutin Cork Slingback Pumps

Must

Pedder Red Cork Pumps 

(they're a hell lot easier to walk on and more comfy too)

Jewel Rocks

In Bali, you Eat, Pray (Play in my case), Love. You lay by the beaches, many for you to choose from. You take walks in the padi fields in Ubud, you eat eggs cooked by burying them in the soil at the foot of Mt Kitamani volcano, you taste the mouth-watering beef rendang and other Indo delicacy but you don't quite shop there.

Unless batik, surf garbs, bottle openers in the shape of penis, painting and art stuff are you cup of tea, there isn't much chance for you to swipe your plastic and splash your rupiah for a bit of retail therapy. You're in Bali. You're supposed to enjoy the wonders of nature on this island of gods. The one exception (for me at least), is Jewel Rocks. Tucked away in Jalan Drupai in Seminyak, my favourite store in Bali sells gorgeous handmade jewelry with their famed beaded bracelets and necklaces that are pretty coveted world-wide.

Inspired by travelers and global trotting, Jewel Rocks makes the prettiest beaded bracelets and necklace with a myriad of material from crystals, brass, silver, tibetan gold, thread, wood etc etc. A note of warning: if you love beaded bracelets, you'll experience a case of hysteria when you walk into their quaint little shop with their big collection of original designs, all handmade with love in Bali. It was Christmas morning for me.

After regaining my composure and sending off the boy to the very lovely Vienna Cafe across the road (excellent place to chill), I ended up with 2,800,000 Rupiah worth of loot and a big smile.....yes, it's ridiculous, but my insanity wasn't unfounded with the boy buying up 2 of bracelets (for his friends) because they're so beautiful. And yes, Rp 2.8 million because these aren't your a dime a dozen cheap stuff from the tourist souvenir stores. These are well-made pieces with high grade stones, crystals and pure silver that let you remember your Bali trip with.

My Stash

Photos don't do them justice really. They look so pretty and colourful that looking at them makes me happy

The simple tassel silver necklace which I got a lot of compliments wearing. Works really nicely on white or gray tops

The only regret is that I didn't buy more. I was contemplating buying more to sell on my blog but well, not sure if that would work in these days where mass-produced lower-price stuff takes favour for many people. So maybe next time. I'm so gonna raid the store next time and I hope it'll happen really soon too!

Hello London Fashion Week!

Ahh, sadly, it's not about me going to the London Fashion Week on 13 September *super sad face* but they have this super cool clips on 100 years of fashion in 100 seconds! It's super cool! Love it! Amazing editing.

Meanwhile I'm counting down to my holiday to Bali!! 3 more days to go!

Lanvin Fall Winter 2011

Love Alber Elbaz...the Lanvin F/W collection is gorgeous (many not shown here)!! Love that there's a dash of coral, mustard and greige on the dresses. Of course, Alber is super cute with a good sense of humour. My all time favourite designer.



P.S. is the awkward dances part of the appeal though?

YSL Arty

I can't stop gushing. With a ring and bangle as awesome as the YSL Arty, how could I not gush?

Forget about saving up for rainy days. I caved into temptation for good and bagged the YSL Arty Ring and Bangle. The best part? There's absolutely no buyer's regret here and that's when you know you bought something you truly feel 100% for.

The YSL Arty is the definitive icon for the range of YSL costume jewelry. Probably the most successful too with fans snatching up the ring the moment it was launched some years back and the clout of followings is still going strong. And with a stunning design as such, you can see why of course.

True to its name, the Arty is, well, very arty. I love it for the fact that it's a piece of art you can wear on your finger and the wow factor is immediate. So when my faithful YSL sales person whipped out the Arty bangle which just came into the store a couple of hours ago (which he so kindly reserved for me too...thanks Jackson!), it was a no brainer that I need to get them as a pair. Not to wear together as a set but as separates, though I do think with certain outfits, you can get away with wearing both without looking too gaudy.  The boy initially thought it was a bit OTT looking at the ring but he changed his mind and single-mindedly decided that it's a very stunning ring after seeing it on the finger....(I'm proud to say that my boy does have very good taste. After all, he is recently a proud owner of the Louboutin Alfie)

This is my all-time favorite piece hands down. And I'm determined to get it in turquoise and coral color too...once the stock comes in again...

Kitty Chanel

Love the Chanel Autumn Winter 2011.....Hello kitty kitty! Mir Bond would approve of this....

Happy Feet II

Okay, so it seems like all Louboutins might look oh-so-pretty but when it comes to walking around in heels, even Louboutins make my feet feel like they're in some ancient feet torture treatment. How some women could strut around all day in towering heels is beyond me . Needless to say, my three pairs of Louboutins aren't getting that much mileage cos I've gone back mostly to my trusted flats.

And now, I have a new addition to my Toms family cos I got a pair of Toms in Black Glitter (courtesy of Mr Bear) and I LOVE IT! I've loved Toms Shoes cos they're super comfy and the best thing is that, for every pair you buy, they give away a pair to a child in need of shoes. So it's a shoe brand with a very good conscience! I've written about it more than a year ago and you can read more here. These are so a dressier version of their usual canvas shoes and it's so pretty...

Apparently Toms makes wedges too and they look pretty nice as well. The only problem is that I've never tried them on and I'm not sure if it'll fit my feet. They're also not available in Singapore either so might have to wait until they come in. Or maybe I'll just buy one pair blind without trying online....we'll see...but they look really pretty! Oh in Singapore, Toms shoes are available at Rockstar

Serious Kelly Lusting

I want a Kelly Relax by Hermes! It's a serious lust item! I've never been a fan of Hermes despite the cult status of Birkins cos despite the meticulous and impeccable workmanship, I always think the their bags look overly structured, stiff and old-fashion. I honestly think that it's more like a cult status thing that they're so coveted cos if you have held a Birkin before, you'll know that it's freaking heavy!

Old versus new....side by side for a comparo

Anyway, that said, Hermes re-issued an updated version of the Kelly called the Kelly Relax and omg I LOVE IT. Among the Hermes's repertoire of bags, Kelly is my favorite and at one point I actually would love to have one despite it being boxy and brief-case like but then the Kelly Relax is just perfect! It's a soft slouchy modern-take to the classic and it's so much nicer. At least you won't accidentally jab your thigh or someone else's thigh with the sharp old Kelly edges for sure.

Sadly, this will remain as a lust item....unless I struck lottery of course.....