Great Minds Think Alike #24

Bally Fall Winter 2010 vs. Mulberry Fall Winter 2008

Are you seeing what I see? Is that a dejavu from Fall Winter 2008 season where Mulberry launched their Shimmy Tote? Seems like Bally is 4 seasons too late to come up with a shockingly similar design. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Great minds think alike?

Source: Bally, Mulberry

My MANy Bags News #204

Designer Marc Newson Wears YSL Fall Winter 2008 'Blanket' Coat To YSL Womenswear Show

During the recent YSL Fall Winter 2010 Womenswear show in Paris, I spotted famed industrial designer, Marc Newson attending the event wearing a gorgeous and cosy YSL Fall Winter 2008 Men's Coat. Gorgeous colour and design that almost feels like you are wrapping up warm and toasty in a blanket. Love the red trimming and the large plaid pattern. I want the coat! But kinda too late now since the coat is from a few season's back.

Darn! 'Nostalgia' lust for fashion is tough. You cannot find what you want in stores now. The feeling of missed opportunity is never nice:-(

Source: Getty, GQ

My Bag Collection #51

Below: One of the best buys from the Spring Sumer 2009 sale season... my YSL Y-Sac Sport...

Below: Crafted in quilted nylon and accented with gold brass hardware.
It's light-weight and in a sporty glamour...

Below: Round tubular duffel style...

Below: Metal brass feet at the base, which is seldom seen on sport style bags...

Below: Love those YSL branded brass zipper pulls...perfect for me to hook on
my Alexander Mcqueen Brass Skull Chain

Below: Black sporty mesh material forms the signature Y-panel on both sides of the bag...

Below: Nylon lined interior with a zip pocket with leather zipper pull.
A YSL leather brand tag is also inside the bag...

Below: Comes with an exterior side zip pocket for added convenience...

Below: My modelling pic from a while back...:-P

Yves Saint Laurent Y-Sac Sport

Finally, after a long hiatus, it's back to me posting about my 'MANy' bags collection':-P Afterall, it's the intended purpose of this blog as a channel to document my bag buying 'adventure':-)

So without any further ado, here's one of the new additions to my bag family. This gorgeous YSL Y-Sac Sport which was acquired during the Spring Summer 2009 end of season sale last month. It's not from that season, but from the Fall Winter 2008 collection. Nonetheless, the black colour and it's classic simple design makes for a timeless design...and best of all, I got it at a fraction of the original price! This is what matters most:-p

I absolutely love the quilted and padded exterior in black shinny nylon. For a moment, it looked like leather:-) There is also a mesh Y-panel on both sides that reinforces the signature look of the brand. Brilliantly contrasted with gold brass hardware, this duffel sports bag just got a notch up in glam factor:-) Much detailing has been introduced onto the bag, the quilting, the branded YSL zipper pulls, the brass feet (for a sports style bag!) and an internal zip pocket with a leather pull. I knew I had to own it on first glance of the bag sitting on the sale rack. It's simply a steal and an excellent buy. The bag can go glamourous or sporty depending on how you want to style it. I chose to adorn it with my Alexander Mcqueen Brass Skull Chain for some punk and edge. Looking lovely in dark, austere chic. Great for evenings or at the gym. And of course, most suited for my Balmain biker look:-P

(PS. Do check out some of the bags I have for sale here)

Retail price: SGD $1130. Where to buy: YSL Boutique at Paragon

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #21

Scarf And That Gorgeous Purple Metallic Lace-ups

It's New York Fashion Week! Time for people watching. Here's 2 looks that I love!

Look 1: Love the way the scarf (it's not wool, but most likely silk, I would love to do that with one from Hermès:-) is wrapped around the neck. Isn't it great to be able to do layering in colder weather? We need layering here in SG!

Look 2: Next up, matchy matchy, from jacket trimming to the purple metallic coloured lace-ups...Lanvin?

Nice:-) Preppy cool.

Source: www.style.com, www. altamiranyc.blogspot.com

My Shopping Conquest #49

Below: My small Mulberry indulgence this weekend...

Below: The very fun unwrapping part...

Below: Peek-a-boo, something gold and bronze...

Below: Yes, it's a heart, it's bronze, it's snakeskin!

Below: Mulberry Heart Keyring in Gold and Bronze Snakeskin

Below: My small collection of LOVE inspired accessories...
(from left: D&G 'LOVE' Bracelet, Mulberry Heart Keyring, YSL Heart Brooch, Prada Heart Keyring, Dolce Gabbana Heart Lock Necklace)

Below: Looking LOVEly and bling on my Guccissima Leather Tote...

Below: The Mulberry Holiday 2008 Catalogue/Poster...The matt gold with gold snakeskin heart keyring is featured...

Mulberry Gold Heart Keyring With Bronze Snakeskin

After a tip off from Bagaholicboy's recent post, I had time on Saturday to check out Mulberry at Hilton to see what charming bag accessories I can bag before the sale is finally over. There were a lot left on sale. Which goes to show that either the economy is holding back the frantic sale shopping or Mulberry keyrings are just not appealing enough to move off the racks. I would say it's both reasons. Perhaps, lots of people are now more focused on their shopping budget and will only get the more 'important' items. Keyrings are just frivolous extras which are dispensible and be bought at anytime. Plus, I do see a whole rack of horoscope keyrings left...which to my honest opinion was pretty unattractive. The sculpt on these metal horoscope animals is not fine and the lacqured colours on them made them look cheaper than they seem.

So I passed on them and begin my selection from the heart keyring range which is way much more attractive! There were only a few left. I had first picked one made of matt gold brass and black croc embossed leather. But the SA told me it was not on sale. I decided against non-sale items since my sole purpose was to take advantage of the markdowns. I was left with 2 more choices...a matt brass version with gold snakeskin heart or a shiny gold version with bronze heart. I test both on the chocolate Piccadilly bag in store and it was clear which one won my heart. The matt gold keyring may have the same finishing as the brass turnlock on the Piccadilly...but being all gold, it does not provide enough contrast to the bag. However, the shiny gold version with bronze snake skin heart compliments the chocolate brown very well and was very bling and stands out against the bag!

I was also surprised to find out later the matt version being 60% off was more expensive than my shiny bronze version which was of only 50% discount.:-) (I paid a fantastic price of just SGD $50 and it was also the last piece in the store)

Happily, I paid for my new Mulberry Gold Heart Keyring With Bronze Snakeskin. A welcome addition to my collection of 'LOVE' theme accessories. See it for yourself:-P

And it looked great on my Gucci brown guccissima leather tote! Totally chic!

Retail price: SGD $99. Where to buy: Mulberry Boutique at Hilton Hotel

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #20

Men And Their Winter Coats

I am a huge fan of The Sartorialist's pictures. His talent to document the most incredible styles in normal people is extraordinary. Very keen eyes to spot the right ones that dresses well and most important of all, inspire.

Here's some more shots of his work at the Paris Fashion Week for Menswear Fall Winter 2009. I love the proportion of heavy tops and skinny bottoms. Such streamlined silhouette 'smartens' a person:-P I especially love the outfit of the guy on the left on the fist pic. The pea coat is excellent looking, fitted with skinny pants. Joe...this look is for you...you can beat him and do us SG folks proud! Work that Balenciaga coat:-P

Style comes from within..you either have it or you dun. We can all try...but at the end of the day, effortless style speaks the loudest.

Source: www.men.style.com

My Shopping Conquest #47

Yves Saint Laurent Heart Brooch
Reveal from 'Shopping Saturday - 17 Jan 09 Edition'

As Sex and the City, the movie proudly 'proclaim' in the finale, 'LOVE' is the best label to be worn, looks fabulous on anyone and never goes out of style, so whoever who finds it are definitely some lucky happy people.

And if you have yet to find LOVE, then I think I found the next best thing:-P

First spotted from the huge loot of YSL shopping of Jonathan, I instantly fell in love with the cute and funky YSL Heart Brooch in matte brass gold. I put it at the back of my mind, but LOVE smitten by the smiley face and the cute design, I knew somehow I had to try my luck in locating one. On a happy Friday evening last week, I went into the YSL boutique at Paragon after work to see if I am fortunate enough to find the brooch. I was not having expectations at all since the YSL sale has gone on for quite a while and chances are slim that this brooch is still available. Nevertheless, I happily asked about the brooch with the ever so friendly and beautiful lady SAs in the store. Their smiles and enthusiasm makes me feel very welcome and it encouraged me to want to spend, spend, spend, despite the lack of mens designs here in SG:-P

One of the lovely ladies went rampaging thru the cabinets as she remembered there is one in stock. My heart was pounding a little as I really wanted to buy the brooch. Imagine 'Comme Des Garcon' PLAY Heart Shape Print on T-shirts? But YSL instead and in metal?...that thought alone is enough reason to lust for this brooch. Moments later, to my delight, she found it! However, the brooch was in silver colour instead of the brass gold I saw on Jon's blog. Expectations did not matched up and I sadly decided to forgo buying the brooch. It lingered on my mind though, and LOVE does grow. My fondness grew and grew overnight and I imagine the possibilities this brooch could bring to my tees and jackets:-) By the next morning, I am very convinced that this is something I must own.

So the next day, on a Saturday shopping expedition all over Orchard Road with my friends, we made YSL one of the stops and happily, I bagged my 'rekindled LOVE'. Who says money can't buy LOVE (50% off in fact, at only SGD$100!), I know I did. It's in the form of a cute little metal heart that smiles back at you:-P The industrial design makes this brooch gender bending and I have no qualms wearing it on my chest. As SATC's soundtrack played in my mind...Yes, I am all 'DRESSED IN LOVE' now...my little 'heart' proudly gloating away:-)

Retail price: SGD $200. Where to buy: YSL Boutique at Paragon

The Material Boy #214

Alexander McQueen Tan Leather Tote

I have seen this Alexander Mcqueen Tan Leather Tote Bag in person during my London holiday last Oct. And it left a good impression on me for the design and versatility this bag. Absolutely fabulous for match up with winter coats, leather jackets and jeans. The light weight of the bag also amazes me since I was expecting the bag to weight a tonne with it's full leather construction. It was actually almost effortless to carry! There could be so many good things I can say about this bag.

However, the reason why I did not get it then was becos I already had in mind the YSL Men's Besace Bag and the full price of £722.00 was too pricey for me.

Yesterday, I went online again to check out the further reductions offered on www.matchesfashion.com, I was duly suprised! This bag, in brown, is now further marked down to just £388.00! (will be cheaper without UK VAT for international orders!) That is an incredible price for a full leather bag of this quality! Remarkably rich tan leather, a bit aged on its glossy patina with matte brass buckle hardware that all adds up to a masculine and yet beautiful bag. Perfect in size, neither too bulky nor too small. This tote also has an exterior zip pocket for easy access to commonly used items and a buckled flap pocket for any extras. The sturdy construction means it can withstand your laptop's weight and you can bring it everywhere.

I would grab this bag in a heartbeat if I had not been buying too many bags recently. Perhaps some of you will be interested in another 'gem' of online shopping and further sales:-P I love to share good shopping bargains.

Comes in a deep green colour as well, but that is still retailing at a lesser discounted price of £488.00. I wonder why...isn't the brown one more classic in colour?

Source: Model pic from www.men.style.com

Retail price: UK 788 pounds. Where to buy: www.matchesfashion.com

My MANy Bags News #31

Below: Mackage Website and Fall Winter Ad Campaign

Below: MTV VJ Tim Cash seen in his Fall Winter 2008 Mackage Coat

Below: Mackage Spring Summer 2009 'Eliot' Rain Jacket...folds into a pouch!

Below: More Mackage Spring Summer 2009 collection

Below: John Legend in his Mackage 'Adrian' leather jacket, Spring Summer 2009 collection

Introducing Mackage Menswear...

As one supermodel's famous words sums it all up in the world of fashion, " In fashion, one day you are in, one day you are out." How true can that be.:-P Make or break, fashion industry is full of surprises and new talents are constantly being pushed to the forefront of attention, fame and fortune:-) So we should always support new and upcoming brands, who knows, they may rise to become the Vuitton, Prada and Gucci-s of tomorrow.

On Thurs this week, I got an email from Taylor of Tractenberg & Co, a PR company that handles the publicity of a fashion brand called Mackage, an outerwear fashion label. It seems my humble blog has found its way into the reading material of Taylor and she (I am so sorry! I made a mistake of assuming you are a guy...apologies!) emailed me to ask if I am interested to check out Mackage's collection and perhaps a story about them on my blog:-)

I welcome the opportunity to discover new labels. It is good always to have an extra alternative to add to your shopping lusts.:-P Of course, I do have some standards and it's not always that I will accept doing a write-up on new brands. To my delight, Mackage is one promising outerwear brand that I got keenly attracted to. Check out their website! Well designed and inspirational in terms of their fall winter advertising imagery. I thought the photography was exceptionally well done and successfully captures the fall winter attitude. Their fall winter collection features military detailings and very sharp tailoring. I also get the vibe of an eastern European styling, or perhaps equestrian inspirations in the clothing presented. It's smart military officers out to kick some butt in the fashion scene! Fierce!:-)

For their new spring summer 2009, their collection continues the sharp, sleek silhouettes, but features more urban, utilitarian inspired looks. Biker style leather jackets and trench coats dominates the collection. Grade school pals and founders/designers of Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy even challenged the conventions of a jacket, and found a way to innovatively synthesize outwear and bag! (My favourite fashion item:-P). The piece is called Eliot, a rain jacket that can be compacted small enough to fit into a briefcase or simply use it as a handheld pouch. Cute:-)

Check out the other cool styles from the images attached:-) Or alternatively, go to their website and read all about the history, collections and design philosophy of the brand.

Mackage is being retailed in North American stores such as Saks, Bloomingdales, Henri Bendel and Neiman Marcus.

Happy shopping! And thank you Taylor:-P for all the help, info and pics!

Source: www.mackage.com