My MANy Bags News #250

Below: Attended the Diesel event last evening... seeing models, especially the male one all caged up and lounging by the store window paved the mood for a night of quirky fun!

Below: Guests crowd all over the store to witness the DIY demonstration happening in the store...

Below: Customised 'Diesel Crafts Rebel' cushion covers! First 30 guests gets to personalised their own with any messaging!

Below: Guest artist Mojoko hard at work personalising those cool neon coloured printed cushion covers...

Below: Some of the 'weirdest' messages pop up thru the night...entertaining for the artist and the guests!

Below: To bad I did not managed to snag one... was fashionably late:-( sob sob! Love the neon pink colours!

Below: Studs, beads and bling up your cushion covers! Very fun!

Below: The new Fall Winter 2010 preview collection is in stores now!

Diesel Craft Rebel Revolution: DIY Fun!

I attended my first Diesel event, organised by Club 21 at the Diesel Store at Forum Shopping Mall, Singapore last evening. Was really nice to take the opportunity to catch up with fellow bloggers amidst all the buzz and fanfare at the event.

They say first impression wows...and seeing a male model caged up in the store window upon entering gives a good hint of the quirky fun atmosphere to be expected. Guest artist Mojoko obliged the first 30 guests with customised silk screen messages in an array of street inspired designs and neon colours. How's that for an evening of arts and craft fun! Further to the customised cushion covers, there is a work station to let you further express your creativity by embellishing your 'DIY project' with studs, beads and all the bling bling you can find!

We enjoyed the non stopping flow of mini sized Asahi beer (the can is so cute I had to down 2!), yummy brownies and mini burgers. Of course, not forgetting to 'frolic' some of the new arrivals from the Fall Winter 2011 preview collection, infused with a rebel street spirit!

Check out the collection now in all Diesel stores in Singapore!

Source: myMANybags

The Material Boy #405

Below: Alexander Mcqueen Swarovski-embellished double skull ring: £106 (without VAT)


Below: Alexander Mcqueen Swarovski-embellished Skull and Bee ring: £132 (without VAT)

Below: Alexander McQueen Brass and pearl skull ring: £128 (without VAT)

Below: Alexander McQueen Leopard skull silk-chiffon scarf: £260 (without VAT)

Alexander McQueen Skull Rings And Scarf : Macabre Chic

There has always been a fascination in skulls when it comes to fashion. Rock stars dig it. Fashionistas love it. Skulls and dark themes somehow add a dangerous edge to the persona, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue.

I used to shun away from 'deathly' associations for my dressing, some part superstition, some part disinterest in darkly looks. But lately, Alexander McQueen's 'rendition' of skulls has grown on me. Call it a side effect of age?!?!? (Growing older does make you contemplate the inevitable end...but perhaps more in the name of fashion:-P)

Alexander McQueen has always adopted the skull motif as part of his designs, evident in his ever popular skull print scarves that adorns the necks of fashion forward folks all over the work. Dearly departed McQueen may be gone, you may have rushed to grab as many of his pieces to save a part of his legacy in your wardrobe... I am still searching for mine. Last season, I had wanted the skull motifs scarves. That got overwhelmingly popular and 'mass', I decided to wait.

This season, I spotted these skull motif rings which may just do the trick. Commendable are the way the skulls are being woven into the design of the rings and not just stuck on as an after thought. The facing twin skulls is my favourite, as does the bee on the skull version. Something small, timeless and very McQueen to remind you of the genius that left fashion too early.

Having said that, if I change my mind on rings, there is still the leopard print scarf to fall back on. Wait to take the plunge anytime soon:-P

so what will you pick?

Source: Net-a-porter

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #146

Hermès Fall Winter 2010 Bags And Accessories: Black, Orange Or Rose Gold?

I'd take any anyday! All I know is I am breathlessly mesmerised... and wiping that drool off my mouth...

Love that Hermès Extra-Wide Clic H Enamel Bracelet In Black, Kelly So Black (comes in black box and dustbag!)... The Barenia Suede Victoria43, Oversized Kelly with the long top handle(?), as seen shoulder carried on the Fall Winter 2010 runway....

And if I get married, I do away with the conventional rings and wear the Rose Gold Collier De Chien with diamonds... how's that for wedding bliss?

Lastly, I need that pair of dogtags... and I mean NEEEEEEEED!

So what are you going 'breathless' for?

Source: Hermès

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #145

Below: Hoodie on a double breasted blazer? Love this idea of sartorial meets sport!

Below: Pixelated camouflage patterns on shorts and pants... for the urban warrior?

Below: Contrast patterns add visual appeal to the classic gingham checks shirt...

Below: The 'Dreyden' blazer, a perfect example of J.Lindeberg's design philosophy of combining fashion and sports. The blazer has been incorporated with innovative sports functionality...

J.Lindeberg Spring Summer 2011 Menswear

Inspired by urban cyclists, J.Lindeberg upholds the brand's design philosophy and created yet another highly wearable collection infusing functionality of sports attires with modern menswear.

Technical functionality usually reserved for activewear can be found in J.lindeberg's Spring Summer 2011 tailored pieces such as the 'Dreyden' blazer, which has been incorporated with mesh membrane to expedite moisture evaporation, a 4 way stretch for ease of movement and a reflective collar for night visibility.

Technical innovations aside, there are also some highly noteworthy designs in the collection, such as pixelated army prints for a touch of urban camouflage (love those pants and jacket look!) and contrast patterns to enhance visual appeal of classic gingham checks shirts. I also adore the fusing of a hoodie with a double breasted blazer, softening the austerity of this formal jacket and making it urban with a touch of sporty attitude. Proportions have also been streamlined, shortened and tailor closer to the body ensuring a sharper silhouette.

A highly wearable collection with magnificent details to be discovered by the most savvy of urban dressers. Now that we have Fifth Ave Shoe Repair in Singapore, who wants to bring another Scandinavian gem, J.Lindeberg to our shores? Hope it happens one day!

Source: J.Lindeberg

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #120

Below: Men and jersey trousers... Will you take it out of the gym or confines of your home? Well, this gentlemen featured in Japanese Magazine LEON says YES. Wear with suits and shirts... to be honest, it ain't looking too bad!

Below: Balmain Homme proposes jersey trousers as well for their fall winter 2010 collection, but added with biker details and much skinny fitted... looking fabulous as well!

Below: Wearing 'long johns looking' jersey trousers aside, will you also pay over SGD800 for these Balmain versions?

Below: Even Bottega Veneta has a jersey sweat pants look for Spring summer 2011...

Mens Jersey Trousers: In Or Out?

Can what was once your attire for the gym or lounging at home be moved to the forefront of men's fashion?

I have recently observed magazines (especially Japanese ones) showcasing pairing of formal menswear, such as blazers and shirts, with jersey trousers. My initial reaction was skeptical about this odd combination. Jersey trousers are too relaxed and they belong where they should be, at home or at the gym. I was not hopeful for any fashion conscious male to want to be caught dead wearing jersey pants out in town. In fashion, never say never. Effective styling does the trick. After seeing many pics of this look done properly thru good styling, as evident in the picture taken from Leon Magazine, I am now convinced jersey pants can make an interesting fashion piece.

For Fall Winter 2010, Balmain Homme offered a 'grungier' alternative to the jersey trousers, derivative from the design of their signature biker jeans, with ribbed leg details and resembling a pair of long johns. See the lookbook picture attached demonstrating how Balmain styles the piece. It breaks up the more formal suiting pieces, a dandy look turned less contrived. The boots also added a bad boy flair that is ever so charming. Nonchalant, comfortable and not trying too hard. Interesting look:-P But Balmain is what Balmain is, be prepared to fork out over SGD800 (¥51,450) for them... (Yikes, that's more shocking than wearing underwear as outerwear.)

Balmain aside, will you ever wear jersey pants and do the sartorial ensemble? Or these comfy trousers will only forever stay in your gym bag or confines of your living room?

Source: Balmain, Restir, Leon

My MANy Bags News #249

Below: Model Davo who is 6ft 1in, with a 35in chest and a 29in waist. Photograph: Levon Biss for the Observer

The Perfect Male Form Now... Thin Is In? Or Six Pack To Stay?

Came across this interesting article discussing the present trend of perceived ideal male physiques. Most prevalent in these kinds of discussion are often directed at the fashion/entertainment industry where physical perfection is the cornerstone of the business.

So is thin really in as what the article has observed? Are we still adoring the traditional athletic male forms where muscles and optimal physical health have always been the basis of attraction?

Good read. Food for thought. The section on Burberry casting a model for their mannequin is enlightening. And women's ideas on what they truly appreciate about the male physique.

(Interestingly, this article came at a time when the fashion industry starts to place emphasis on natural, fuller female forms instead of the usually favoured waif-like ideals. Ironic?)

Much as I like to see androgynous male forms (me belonging to the slim brigade and I am not ashamed of it) parading the runway with more edgy looks, in real life I still prefer guys who have more muscles than bones. I think I am traditional in that sense. What about you? Are you guilty of pursuing the slim brigade? Or we should embrace diversity when health is not a concern?

Excerpts from the article (for full article, click here)

Thin is in: in search of the perfect male body

The well-built man, complete with six-pack and muscular shoulders, is no longer the ideal male body shape. But when did men start aspiring to be thin? And should we worry?
(Polly Vernon, 27 June 2010)

Are men more body conscious now than they were 10 years ago? Apparently yes. Infinitely more. They're certainly subject to increasingly proscriptive and exaggerated notions on the physical ideal. Rootstein's spindly Homme Nouveau shop window mannequin (27in waist, 33in chest), and Burberry's fit model, cast according to the equally slender proportions of male model Davo, are merely the latest, most headline-grabbing manifestations of the mounting pressure on men to be a certain – diminished – shape. Consider, for example, that the average British man has a waist size measuring 39in, and yet American Apparel – spiritual home of anyone hoping they might be even the teensiest bit hip – doesn't sell its signature Slim Slack trouser with a waistband larger than 30in. Consider a significant proportion of contemporary male cultural icons: Russell Brand, Pete Doherty, Matt Smith and David Tennant, Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, Johnny Borrell of Razorlight, nearly all of the Kings of Leon, Nicholas Hoult, any one of the men with whom Kelly Osbourne periodically dallies… Thin, thin and thinner.

Do men – normal, non-celebrity, non-model men – care? Well, yeah – apparently they do. Incidences of eating disorders in men are on the rise. In 1990, 10% of people suffering from anorexia or bulimia were estimated to be men; today it's more like 25%. Figures for women have remained steady throughout that time. Two out of five binge eaters are men. More and more teenage boys say they are dissatisfied with their bodies. The male segment of the plastic surgery market is booming – moob jobs are proving especially popular; in 2009 there was a 44% year-on-year increase in male breast-reduction procedures. So yes, men want to be thinner. Actually – men want to be thin.

And yet traditionally the male physical ideal is the opposite of skinny. It is athletic, buff, big shouldered, capable. It has pecs and guns and ripped abdominals. Until relatively recently, thin men were ashamed, or assumed to be ashamed, of their bodies. They were considered less masculine by dint of their thinness; the rare thin male cultural icons – Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker – made thin part of their shtick, an expression of how disenfranchised they felt, how removed from the cultural mainstream.

But now thin is the cultural mainstream. Thin is desirable. Men want it – men diet for it. They go under the knife in pursuit of it. (To be continued here)

Source: The Guardian UK

My MANy Bags News #248

Below: Milan Stitched Double Breasted Navy Jacket (Price: €1285.50 without VAT) available at www.luisaviaroma.com

Jennifer Aniston Wears Balmain Double Breasted Navy Blazer

I have loved this Balmain Navy Blazer ever since Emmanuelle Alt was first seen in it. I even emulate my own version by sewing gold buttons onto my existing navy blazer. Now former 'Friends' star, Jennifer Aniston affirms the allure of this classic piece that is non showy and flashy, unlike the brand's usual over the top designs. Definitely an investment piece! The cut is simply flattering for the female body:-)

Source: Upscale Hype

My Shopping Conquest #106

Below: Something delightfully orange comes my way...

Below: It's so seductively silver...

Below: It's my first Hermès Collier De Chien! And an exotic one in my most coveted Ombre Lizard Skin with Silver Palladium Hardware! Woot! (to quote Mark!)

Below: Literally a 'work of art'... the beautiful brownish and milk tones of the ombre lizard compliments the silver palladium hardware so well...

Below: Love the natural pattern of the lizard skin...a touch of exotic without being too overbearing like python and certain alligator skin colours...

Below: Major amounts of hardware... it's a statement piece... just have to know how to live with 'scratches':-P (And 'fibres' from the felt pouch?!?!?:-P)

Below: I love the CDC bracelet on my wrist! Woot!

Hermès Collier De Chien In Ombre Lizard With Silver Palladium Hardware

Oh no I didn't! Yes, I could not believe it myself either... I got my dream Hermès piece, the highly coveted Hermès Collier De Chien In Ombre Lizard with Silver Palladium Hardware! Such a piece of art, the beautiful scales on the lizard skin in brownish and milk tones compliments the silver palldium hardware so well. This bracelet simply adds a touch of exotic charm, without looking too overpowering and 'mature' as compared to alligator CDCs. (Some brightly coloured alligator CDC looked too 'matronly'... Althought I welcome a red, barenia or black alligator CDC anyday!)

(Thank you Sean for letting me have a chance to own this beauty! Loving this to bits.)

I am now the proud owner of my first CDC...and an exotic one to boot! Yay!

Source: myManybags

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #119

Below: Guys are now not letting their female counterparts have all the fun! We wear jewellery too! And plenty of them layered on the wrist:-P

Below: Spotted during Milan And Paris Spring Summer 2011 Fashion week, guys are not being shy about decorating their wrists!

Below: Piling multiple bracelets with watch for maximum statement making effect! Add some boho charm to break off the serious look of any suits and jackets...

Below: I love these LA based designer Chan Luu's 14 karat gold wrap-around beaded bracelets. Boho chic with a touch of luxe:-P

Below: Chan Luu's eclectic creations have earned her A-list celebrity fans such as Lady Gaga and Rihana:-P

Men And Wrist Jewellery

Are men allowed to wear any jewellery beyond the usual watch and ring? Apparently in these fashion forward times now, guys are catching up with girls in terms of playing dressed up!

The recent Milan and Paris Spring Summer 2011 Mens Fashion Week has seen many guys embellishing their wrist with a myriad variety of beaded, woven or metal bracelets, often layered together for a statement making effect. Japanese men's magazines (they are the most updated and relevant) such as Leon and Uomo, who have always propagate masculine Italian styles, are also widely featuring this trend.

Are you game for some 'wrist action'? I spotted these 14 carat gold or silver beads wrap around bracelets from Vietnamese designer, Chan Luu, which is luxe with a bohemian touch. Chan Luu is a designer graduate from Los Angeles's Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising before starting her eponymous line of handcrafted accessories in 1996. Now based in Los Angeles, her line has won the hearts of A-list celebrity fans such as Lady Gaga, Rihana and Kate Hudson.

Chan Luu's designs are very neutral and hence has also been featured in Leon and Uomo magazines. The bracelets simply look great when worn and piled with a watch. I want one!

Prices start from approx. US$195.

Source: Leon, GQ by Tommy Ton, Net-a-porter, Chan Luu