Oct

“Star-studded” Night

Its been a while since I last left traces here. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, it was because I didn’t know what to. I have been leading the mundane life, life cycle stays the same for the past days, weeks, months, my emotions remained quite the same.

I attended a friend’s engagement party, that drove emotions but when I was back to the real world when I got home I lost all emotions to actually note it all down here. Maybe I’m getting old and such feelings fade away so fast my fingers can’t enough close fast enough to let it stay in my hand.

It seemed like a while since I met up with the bestie even though on recollection I did meet her quite often of late. We met up for the launch of Topshop Topman Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection. I had received an invitation way back and asked if she wanted to come along if she didn’t have an invite. I wanted to go because it was an event that I always dream of going. I got a goodie bag for being the first 400 of which I only like the bag that contained the goodies.

Launch of TOPSHOP TOPMAN Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection

We both stood around for a while with the music blasting in the background and sipping on the cold drinks we were served. There was popcorn and ice-cream to fill the hungry stomach. After all it was dinner time. The seats lining the really short runway were reserved for the media. Before the show begin, we figured we couldn’t quite see anything from where we are and the heat and humidity was going to kill us (more so me) if we (more so I) didn’t leave so we went for dinner.

Friday Night Delight -- The Pantry Club

I do not know what went into my head when I chose sandwich for dinner. I should have started and ended with dessert! Damn! This sandwich picked was good but it would have been better for breakfast. Our dinner ended after the show ended so we didn’t head back. What I think was the highlight of the night was this…

My Dream, My Want, Mine...

It was what I have been looking for during the years in UK but faux fur only became an in-thing when I left UK. The call came on Wednesday to inform me that the item I was looking for had arrived and that what seems like the only piece of size 6 has been kept aside for me by my PS. Very nice. When the SA brought it out from the room, my breathe was taken away. It is now mine…

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Oct

Cinderella’s Slippers

Since I started this space and renewed my faith in writing in public again, more anonymously this time, I had always planned on doing a weekly if not bi-weekly update on my shoe collection much to the support of Juls. I have been waiting for the right pair of shoes to begin the introduction to my shoe collection and the day has finally arrived. What better way to start the series than to unveil the Queen of Shoes (*hint: the little red soles)…

I’ve had a fetish for shoes since I took off for the UK. Less so before that because I often only have time for a meal and movie after school when still schooling in Singapore. Tbh, I never recalled even buying anything besides the birthday presents without my mom around. Financial restriction could be the main reason.

Studying in the UK where London is one of the fashion capital has opened my horizons to a more than gigantic collection of shoes from couture to designer to high street to low street (I made that last term up). I can’t exactly recall when that wish to be Imelda Marcos II, as my dad loves to call me, started to stem its way into my heart.

I do recall one occasion when I was trying a pair of odd looking shoes for fun at Topshop only to have my heart melting because of how good it looked after seeing them in my size and worse, on me. Even the SAs were gushing. I have small feet which I used to complain to my mom about because that kinda, in my most “wise” opinion, prevented me from growing any taller. I stopped grumbling and in fact am quite thankful I’ve small feet, am short and am relatively petite because in UK, no one fights with me for the only size 3 and sizes 6 or 8. Most importantly, the size 3 will never be on display; I must say that is good marketing strategy!

Also, just at the time I was studying in UK, ok maybe it happened before but I wasn’t fashion conscious than, there are loads of platform heels. I can afford those and not feel like I’m towering over the others. Love it.

So slowly as each semester went by, I got one pair, two pairs, three pairs, the record was five pairs during each of my shopping trips. My collection grew without my knowledge because I’d bring a few back home each time I return for Christmas or summer break until Jeremy commented one day when I was complaining about how I have been a year dry of shoes since last year “I think you have more shoes than that shop we just walked pass so stop complaining, you really can open a shop with the shoes you have”. I would have a smaller collection had Amy not been there to give me her most sacred advices and opinions to ignore Jeremy.

Back for a year, 2 months or maybe 3 now and shopping for shoes has never been the same. Topshop and River Island here do not stock the whole collection because it is not practical. Think: whole collection means they got to stock at least a pair in each size but that doesn’t mean they will sell off each pair. Shipment back to the UK would be another set of costs. Also, our weather do not permit certain types of shoes despite their very best effort to sell thigh high boots. Rather sorely lacking in that division, maybe I should get one to complete my collection.

Anyway I stumbled on ebay whilst in search for probably the coolest pair of shoes ever to be available, to add to my leather, suede, patent, canvas, wood and wool — collage.

Curious To Know What This Is?

Never heard right? Totally curious right? Before you girl shoe lovers jump at admiring the pictures and lose track of what I’m going to say, I’d like to express a big thank you to Natalie of Trenduet on ebay who put this pair of shoes on hold for me for more than 3 months because I have been trying to “raise funds” for it especially after I burnt a hole in my pockets trying to rush for the back to school offer to get my mac. She was extremely patient with my questions and is trustworthy based on this transaction I had with her. If you are curious to know what she has to offer here’s her link: http://myworld.ebay.com.sg/trenduet/.

Disclaimer: I am simply providing an avenue to those who online shop and are keen on getting those shoes which are very expensive here online at a cheaper rate and not acting as an agent of any sort. To get to know more, please contact the seller directly.

Now for the moment you have been waiting for… Drum rolls…

Yes Its A Pair Of Louboutins!

Introducing The Cate Trash

The Other View

Close Up

I never thought my first pair of Louboutins will be attained this year. I am very glad I had the chance of stumbling upon Natalie’s site and especially this pair of shoes in Louboutin Size 36. If you noticed, on ebay, size 36 is a rarity, and its definitely a cause for celebration to have in my collection the Louboutin I have been looking so hard for IN MY SIZE! *screams*

My First Pair of Louboutins

it is going to be a pair that I will treasure for a long time because its my first. After this, I am sure more is to come.

Welcome to the world of Louboutins N.

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Oct

Big Is Beautiful

Welcoming My 27" iMac!

It is a very huge and heavy baby and it has set me back to eating bread for 3 months, ok I am kidding on that; it would have happened in the UK but not in Singapore.

I have eyed the 27″ iMac for the longest time. Desktop because I no longer need something mobile and according to my computer expert friends, is definitely (I hope) more durable than a laptop. Deep within, I was actually hoping to iPad if I ever meet with the problem of mobility, shall not digress further. I have been a strong believer that big is beautiful, with the exception of the main and I stress main body structure. I have been really satisfied with it, if only the internet connection had been more stable. I swear mio tv is driving me up the walls!

Welcome home Tigbit!

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Oct

Colored Nails Rule The Purse

Since my iMac became a new addition of the family, post about it later, I have been going quite crazy about keeping myself up to date with the fashion trends. Maybe work was another push factor, but to hell with it at the moment.

Being still a trainee paid a meager student’s allowance, I can only afford that occasional bag of the season (2 this year), shoes (finally got one this year enough to triumph the 14 plus months of shoe famine) and clothes (which is now the least of my priority) as skincare, skincare and more skincare has made its way to the top of the list in this humid and hot climate. I discovered a cheaper alternative to keeping up with the season’s latest looks, NAIL POLISH!

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour 505 Particuliere

I got myself the above colour from Chanel’s 2010 Spring Collection and yes I know I’ve been a bit slow in this arena cause I only realised I got myself the 2009 Spring Collection Jade Rose when I got home. And like every black Chanel flap a girl must have, I got myself the No. 18 nail polish. Quite extravagent I have been lately I must say… I would have rushed down to MBS to get the 2010 Fall Collection (which also happen to be limited edition) if I had indeed been over-the-board-shoppaholic. I’d probably hate myself to the core for that.

Anyway, the colour I have on now its a mix of grey, brown and purple and surprisingly, it actually is an easy to match with my wardrobe. Especially with my newly purchased shoes (more on that later); totally adore them both. What I like about it is how rare this colour can be seen on the hands and feet of the ladies in the streets… Lovin’ it!

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Oct

Miss Independent

Tomorrow is Wednesday. Or rather, right at this point, its Wednesday. The clock reads 12:30 AM. I should have realized how quiet the neighborhood has been, obviously consumed by the music I have neglected since my Vaio drowned in spilt latte water (if you think the former sounded familiar it is from Gossip Girl’s Season 4 Episode 4).

My heart panicked a bit. I had happily completed Tuesday reorganizing my life back in Singapore and hoped Wednesday would be a brand new day for me to start my life anew, looks like now I gotta procrastinate that till Thursday. Hope was right “when you are happy doing nothing, time flies faster than you know”. I know it sounds crazy to still be in the reorganizing stage especially because I’ve been back for a year and a month and a few days. Shamefully (only realized it as of yesterday) I have been in denial, that silent wish deep within for orders to come from above to get me repacking for the life I had been prepared and wished for. I hadn’t planned for this return at all. In fact, I had meant to stay another year in the UK and hopefully many more years to come after. I had everything ready except the Visa for another year only to have to cancel all the plans because there was a change of orders. I was immediately whisked into student life and shortly after, the workforce.

Waking up on Saturday knowing I didn’t have to report to work on Monday was awesome! I could take things in my stride just as I always had in UK, I could open the windows to welcome the breeze, to hear the birds sing and what I enjoyed most, to walk down town with my Alexa on one shoulder, plugged into my iPod, a green tea frap from Starbucks in one hand, without a care in the world and to do my next favorite non-wet activity; shopping. Yes alone.

Since coming back, I’ve tonnes (and totally not exaggerating) of difficulty getting people to go catch a movie with me, a meal with me, to shop with me. I convinced myself that my friends would be too preoccupied with their future commitments; kids and husband to even have time to go shopping with me and since I’ve cultivated that habit of doing things alone in the UK, I might as well continue it here, after all, it looks like I’ll never head back there again.

Adapting to life as a financially independent single wasn’t difficult. I walked around and got myself some books, skin care and nail polishes to pass time at home if and when I’m bored and of course, when one is shopping, exterior well being has to be taken care of — nice clothes. Again I couldn’t find shoes but its ok… Cause one is on the way to be delivered to me as we speak.

I love shopping alone because I didn’t have to worry if I was wasting too much time at one place and the friend was bored to death. I have the luxury of time to chat up the sales assistants (“SAs”) who would often offer to give me loads of samples for my problem areas even on days when I walk away with something really cheap. Below is what I got just from Chanel.

My Purchases & Free Chanel Skincare Samples

Some even pampered me with vouchers for the next visit. Seriously, how good can this get? Unfortunately for me, I only have 2 or maybe 3 friends who know my tastes well so besides them, without them, no one can give me second best opinions as well as the SAs. LI was so shocked that she exclaimed “N you have your own SA?” when she was with me on one occasion I was replenishing my stocks. Its all those “hours” of chatting up with them that I believe will give me the benefits in the long run (I am already benefiting now). If only the Choos and the Louboutins have as good sales in Singapore as they do in Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue… You’d know what are up my sleeves!

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Oct

MULBERRY ALEXA LOVE

Love at First Sight: 6th January 2010; Tries: Success Only On the 7th; In My Possession: 2nd August 2010

Apologies for another outdated post. I had only found time to write about it in September and when I finally did take pictures of it some weeks later, I had to wait for my iMac to arrive before I could upload the picture here. Hence…

The year has been going rather insanely for me despite only standing at the beginning of September. Amidst all those emotional upheavals, I seek solace in hunting down IT-BAG of 2010 – the Mulberry Alexa. Named after It-Girl Alexa Chung, English model and TV presenter, it looks set to becoming a classic like the Chanel’s Classic Flap, Chanel’s 2.55, Balenciaga’s Motorcycle where year in year out, the style remains constant and in demand but the variety of colours increases.

Since seeing it on 6^th January 2010 and knowing that it will be released on the 12^th January 2010, I hurriedly seek the help of my in-London friends. They weren’t able to secure me because it flew off the shelf immediate on the 12^th. Crazy hur. I was put on the waiting list.

I got to know of a bag concierge who could only put me on the same waiting list. She only got confirmation of the bag after she left the UK which meant I have to pay the shipping and GST charges incurred by the SG customs atop the service charges the concierge charge, exchange rate and credit card commission. No way am I paying so much third party charges to get a bag.

I’d have gotten the bag earlier through the bestie who was in HK and kindly called me to tell me that she had it in front of her. However, because I couldn’t confirm if my in-London friends actually got it (considering that I was on the same wait list twice and being lower on the list was informed that I have the bag its only logical that being higher on the list, I should have the bag too), to be on the safe side, I told her not to get it. I really didn’t want to get 2 exact same bags. Turned out, my in-London friends didn’t get any news about me getting a bag despite being on the wait list.

I panicked cause when I approached my HK friends to help (the bestie has returned home by that time of course), they told me the bag is sold out. Upset max.

I emailed Mulberry UK and they told me they no longer have it online but still have them in store so I made long distance calls to Mulberry UK. Yes I know I should be instituted for being a bagaholic.

First call I made, they told me that my transaction was rejected. I asked for the bag to be put on hold. 24 hours was the dateline. Crap. I learnt that the boutiques can only ship locally (in UK) and that the shipping and billing address has to be the same! I panicked further. I have friends in UK I can ship to no problems at all but the UK debit card I was using had my Singapore address. I was willing to transfer British pounds to them for them to get it for me. Turned out none of them are willing so I risked it and changed my debit card address to my friend’s address. If you wondered how I did it, it was simply because I was still holding onto my UK debit card.

When I called a second time, whilst worried that as time ticks away, I’d be incurring huge phone bills, I was keeping my fingers crossed that the transaction could go through this time. ITS GONE THROUGH! OMG! I SCREAMED. The lady on the other side of the phone could sense my jubilance. She told me: it is really a nice bag. I couldn’t stop giving thanks to her. ITS FINALLY MINE. ALL MINE! (This probably happened in June)

6 whole months of anxiety, hard work, patient/impatient waiting and perseverance to overcome 6 times of failure indeed paid off. I’d like here to thank Amy, Amy’s friend, Jessica, Vincent for helping out in my dream chasing and especially YL for actually checking that the bag gets delivered and actually hand carrying it back home for me. THANK YOU GUYS.

Now for the moment you guys have been waiting for. My regular Alexa in Ink from the very first Alexa Collection of Mulberry’s 2010 Spring-Summer Collection.

Mulberry Alexa in Ink from Mulberry Spring-Summer 2010

This bag became extra special when she “granted” me a last and definitely unforgettable evening with him before he left.

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Sep

Shoes Of The Shoeholic

I realised that when it comes to getting dressed, men are a little bit more important than hangbags but less important than shoes. At any rate, we are merely accessories. – Ashton Kutcher

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Sep

I’m A Convert

Last night, I found sometime to make my iMac an individual of substances besides the beauty. I, unfortunately, have yet to find a suitable name for it yet.

I downloaded firefox, msn (eww! it looked like the msn I used when I was in secondary school, very outdated!), skype, made the access to my emails synchronised, programmed my gchat on iChat, attempted to watch something from tudou but failed. I managed to stream youtube and thoroughly enjoyed the excellent sound and visual experience. I even played a game of rubbish chess against my Mac (i.e. I made moves without thinking at all).

With the weekend around the corner, I shall attempt to upload all my songs onto itunes, photos on iphotos, download quicktime player, find a microsoft for mac and try tudou again!

When is your turn?

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Sep

Best News For The Day!

I received a text just a few minutes ago and I just had to stop blogging about Vogue and drop a line or two here. The text reads:

Daddy
Yr computer is here

YES! YES! YES! My 27″ iMac is here! After all the pain I’ve gone through. That’s why I’ve never been a true fan of online purchase unless I really have to. I remain staunch to only buying things online (at a discount) after I’ve seen the item in store.

I purchased 3 items online; the iMac, Applecare and the iTouch that comes free with it. The day after my purchase, I received an email that said my credit card was rejected. I panicked, so I went down to the bank and checked. Bank confirmed that they had earmarked the purchase sum for Apple so I emailed them. The same afternoon, the same email came back. I sent them another email. Yes I’m not very patient. No reply.

The next morning, the same rejection email came back. Well, I haven’t shared the story of my Alexa but when I do, you’d know that the more I’m rejected, the more I refuse to leave all to nature’s course and would take matters into my own hands. Anyway, I sent a third email at the same time engaged J to call Apple Store Payment Department. He was on it for an hour each (because I gave him two numbers). No one picked up.

I got a third number and got him to call on the second day after my purchase. He waited for 45 minutes and gave up. It is quite irritating to listen to crap music and someone thanking you for your patience at 2 minute intervals. On the same day, I called the Sales Department instead. I knew they will pick it up, and rather promptly at that because they definitely want to confirm as many Apple products sales as possible. True to my words, I only waited 10 minutes. The guy I spoke to convinced me that it was my bank’s problem so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and called the bank again. Bank told me, Apple had successfully authorised the purchase sum initially but had gone on to seek authorisation for the same sum again. The subsequent authorisations were rejected because of insufficient funds.

Now here, I’d like to share a habit I’ve cultivated. I only put in a sum slightly more than the item I’m buying online into the bank account because I was afraid I’d be charged extra charges.

Ever thankful for the Hari Raya Puasa Holidays, I had the whole day to call Apple. I called the Payment team, no one picked up. I held the phone at a record time of 2 hours! Yes, 2 hours. I decided that even if I were to hold the phone for 5 years, no one would pick up. I seriously suspect that no one operates the Payment department at all. I called the dude I spoke to the day before, he was getting less patient with me cause I was clearly very frustrated. I decided to try someone else and the guy linked me to customer service.

I spoke to an Amy Chan and before I begin my rants, I’d like to say: THANK YOU AMY! Amy has been nice enough to figure out the problem; that the computer auto-generates authorisation for another sum. She had wanted to get the Payment team to call me yesterday but I insisted I wanted to have a peace of mind over the weekend and for her to settle the problem on that day. She managed and shipment of the item was set for yesterday. Expected day of delivery should have been tomorrow which kept me excited the whole day. Turns out… It was a better surprise!

I’ll update once I get home and have inspected my goods. In love and there’s no turning back…

JULS! I CAN FINALLY WEBCAM YOU!

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Aug

Because You’re Worth It!

Sometimes I think I’d make a good mother. I see some of you rolling your eyes, coughing or smiling away at this. Now that is not funny. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, just never too sure about whether I want to get married because guys are still jerks. Just like how a parent commented to Juls (see what I mean, I subconsciously relate everything here back to her): girls are horrible aren’t they? Maybe I’m one of them that’s why I think guys are jerks. Still.

What kind of mother do you picture yourself to be?

A male character in some movie (can’t recall) reminded the main character to look at the mother of the woman he is marrying because she will be the reflection of what his wife-to-be will be like in future. I wonder how true that is. I do know that my mom is never thrifty when it comes to showering us with our wants and I’m not too. For my brother’s 21st birthday a few months back, I got him a Tag. It can’t be less appropriate.

21 is the age when all the grey starts becoming black and white, when responsibility are forced upon one whether you like it or not, when the essence of time becomes the focal point of life which is closely associated to M - money. A watch is aptly as I racked my brains for an appropriate gift. P advised rather wisely before that one should look at the watch, the shoe the guy wears and the wallet the guy carries to decide if he is worth his salt. (This is a tip for all you out there for gift ideas.)

Between watch, shoes and wallet; shoes was too risky, size and cutting is a problem, wallet is too common and rather hidden, watch is apt for how often people will just observe what’s above the waist for that lasting impression. A watch on a guy is like the bling ring on the girl. Though with this buy, it means delaying my iMac but its worth it to see that smile on his face and the profuse words of thanks.

Any gift giver would love to feel and see that brimming appreciation from the gift receiver… Wouldn’t you?

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RUNWAY-VOGUE

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