Succumbing to the Sales

It’s been of those weeks where I’m writing my little fingers off, only to pause occasionally not to eat or sleep, but SHOP. Ha. Ha? Getting my tax money last week has not helped matters. But lest you think I’ve been buying all sorts of shit on a whim, rest assured I’ve been doing some very valiant “investment shopping”. If clothes/shoes/bags (yes, guilty – all three!) could talk:

“My name is Acne Rider Low in Polish Brown. I’ve been on Sabrina’s wishlist for awhile now. You might remember the post where she extolled my virtues of being the perfect combination of cowboy and motorcycle boots. How kind of her, no? Well, not to toot my own horn, but I truly believe that I am a very versatile everyday boot. I will last for ages. The polish brown is a bit unexpected, but stunning in person. And really, who can resist a bit of hunky, chunky love?”

**EDIT** They are too big and the next size down is sold out. Waaaaaaah. Back to the shop they go.

“Sabrina has been looking for a bucket bag for aaaaaaaages. She searches weekly on Etsy, I’ve been told. And since I knew of her love of Vivienne Westwood AND leopard print, well, this was no-brainer. It’s the perfect mid-size, too.”

“Bonjour. I am what may be the most perfect trousers ever. A Carven design, Sabrina loves a higher waist (to avoid muffin-top), tapered leg and cropped length (she’s a shorty). I really hope I can fit on her. Fingers crossed.”

**EDIT** They sent the wrong size. Arrrrrgh. And I can’t exchange, only refund. Arrrrgh. Would have to buy another pair. Arrrrrgh. Can NOT be arsed with shipping charges again, especially if they make me pay the return shipping charges I’m now contesting based on receiving the wrong size. Arrrrrrgh. Matches Fashion: FAIL.

“I’m the Carven bow-back shoes that will become Sabrina’s go-to party shoe. I think I’m the first pair of black pumps she has ever owned? Mon dieu!”

“Oui, oui, another Carven piece! But Sabrina can now call off the search for a short, black, flouncy skirt. She’s been harping on about it on Pinterest for Lord knows how long… ?”

So there you have it, folks. Pieces for the ages. A very satisfying sale season thus far. Because you know what starts next Monday? The international Net-a-Porter sale. *shudder*

Shoes versus Bags (or: Sunday afternoon delight)

If my blog tags are anything to go by, quite clearly I am a shoe girl.

Now, I have no idea what makes some people shoe whores and others bag hags, but as long as you are not a celebrity/model/socialite, you’re probably firmly entrenched in one camp and one camp only. Of course, I like bags and can coo over them, but at the end of the day I’d rather spend my pennies on shoes. End of story.

Or not.

Because I’ve been looking for a new bag for a while now. While I love my neon Cambridge satchel, it only fits the bare minimum, which does not include sunglasses… major pain in the arse. Same with my other beloved envelope clutches. My Alexander Rocco is currently on injury leave, but is too heavy (weight and look) for summer anyways. My ancient Vivienne Westwood is still seeing action and my Yvonne Kone is a dream, so that’s in heavy rotation, too. But I’ve been wanting a satchel or tote of medium size. Relatively unadorned and made of buttery, soft leather.

All the designer ones I’ve been eyeing… 3.1 Phillip Lim, Mulberry, Céline, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Maison Martin Margiela, Ann Demuelemeester, Chanel… I can’t justify the prices, which I know is hysterically funny considering how much I spend on shoes, but the bags are way more expensive! And I don’t really want to buy high street, because it doesn’t seem as special.

Then I remembered a little LA-based bag company that has been on my radar for awhile: Clare Vivier. Simple, well-made, unadorned, buttery soft bags at very good prices (especially with currency exchange rates!). As of late, it’s the leopard print envelope clutch that I’ve been lusting after most, but the bag that first caught my eye was the navy blue Messenger.

Delicious, no? Utter perfection in my eyes. So I bought it. To save myself excruciating customs and duties charges, I got mine from Bodie and Fou, but you can also buy direct from Clare Vivier’s website. And with that, I think I need to step away from the computer. Already way too many delights today…

GimmeGimmeGimme: Jil Sander clutch

My obsession with envelope clutches continues…

M.I.A.

Apologies, I’ve been missing in action for awhile… but here’s what I’ve been up to since we last meaningfully spoke:

Booked our summer holiday. First, to Athens for a wedding then immediately to the area in northern Italy called Cinque Terre for a few days of walking from village to village along the coast, eating, drinking and swimming. Can. Not. Wait.

Bought another bag. Oops. This time, a neon Cambridge Satchel in collaboration with Dover Street Market. Yes, it’s as screaming bright as you can imagine neon pink to be. But I’m in love. In case you’re wondering, I got the 11″ directly from The Cambridge Satchel Company, which was not only cheaper than buying from DSM, but you get the whole variety of sizes, too.

Obsessing over the Sandro S/S 2011 lookbook. The perfect combination of pretty, preppy and laidback Parisian chic. Though I might toughen up some of the looks, I want it all! Gah!

Debating whether I need or want an iPad 2.

With a few deadlines this Friday and then off to the UK for the weekend, it may be another few days before you hear from me again. But know that I’m thinking about you!

Impressively impulsive

Pierre Hardy pouch in the cube print I love so very much. The photo above shows the small size, but I got the large one at 30 x 20 cm. And just like that, I have my bag for Spring. Now if only Spring would actually turn up…

Doin’ the shopping

Today is payday and quite predictably I’ve been trawling the internet for a hit. I actually was stalking a few items earlier this week in the final final final sales around the world wide web (namely, Margiela boots and Pamela Love necklace), but some junkie far more desperate than me beat me to it. The nerve, huh?

So I had to go hunting in new grounds. And here’s what I’ve settled on, but not 100% decided (i.e. no whipping out the wallet… yet):

The Jil Sander market bag. It’s plastic fantastic and the colour is gorgeous.

And though some, if not most people would balk at the idea of spending roughly 110 euros on a plastic bag, I don’t see it any different than buying canvas versions of certain designer bags for much, much more. I find Raf Simons’ concept of high-fashion shopping bags hysterically funny. And mighty desirable.

However, if it’s the concept or even humble shape that I am fond of, then this Maison Martin Margiela version is the ultimate. In soft, buttery nappa leather, I can’t decide between the black or warm grey.

The Margiela shopper is roughly 250 euros more than the Jil Sander. Is it worth it? I’ll have to ponder this a bit more before committing. And yes, I AM committing because my poor Alexander Wang Rocco has a few injuries that seem way too common with Wang bags and my trusty Vivienne Westwood (canvas!) is also beginning to fall apart after what I believe is six years. *Sniffle*

Gosh, doin’ the shopping never looked so good…

Oh, my stars

Peter Pilotto x Kipling, Round 2? Hellllllllllllll, yes. I bought the rucksack from the first collection when we were in Antwerp and I can totally see myself getting the one above, too. And judging from pics of the rest of the collection by Alex Loves, the duffel bag and bucket bag (?) are just as sweet.

It stops here. Really.

Last item from all those pesky “preview” sales arrived yesterday. This is me done, shopping-wise, for a little while. Honest. Don’t believe me? I don’t blame you. But say hello anyways to my new Yvonne Koné shopper:

Bought from the brilliant new boutique in London LN-CC, this bag is so damn soft, roomy, simple and sooooooooo not an It-bag. Not that I have anything against the It-ness of some bags (I do own an Alexander Wang Rocco), but frankly I personally didn’t want a bag you can identify from a particular season and I’d rather spend my hard-earned money on shoes. But if I DID have the money, I would have bought a Chanel 2.55. Or a Reed Krakoff tote. But I digress.

Enter Yvonne Koné, an up-and-coming Danish designer. In collaboration with Bon Goût, Koné has designed functional and stylish leather goods that work for both sexes. Deceptively simple, the designs are thought through and more akin to Margiela or Ann Demeulemeester. I am in love. The leather is so buttery, it could melt. It could fit my laptop, notebook and everything else if it’s one of those days. The warm grey colour is perfect.

Right. Hopefully, this is my last “shopping” post in a while… check back often for progress.

Workday Recovery Kit

Includes the above diagnostic tool and affirmation card. Get yours here. However, I can think of a better way to cure my ‘ails’:

The new Proenza Schouler PS1 in patent leather. Drool. Pant. Faint.

Monday Matters

In no particular order:

• In my bid for alluring cat’s eyes, I picked up the new-ish MAC liquid eyeliner Penultimate whilst in Toronto last weekend. Cute name, eh? But most importantly, the MAC artist promised it would stay put like nothing else. I’ve worn it a couple of days now and developed a love/hate relationship with the damn thing. I LOVE that it handles like a pen and the nib is basically like a Sharpie marker, albeit a fine one. Liquid liner has never been so easy. However, I HATE that it DOES NOT stay put. Not for my eyelids anyways. I have bought the renowned Urban Decay eyeshadow primer to see if that helps, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
• My new Low Luv ring arrived last Friday and I looooooooooooove it!
• I cannot stop listening to Nicki Minaj. Her debut album drops 22 November. Can’t wait. It’s going to be epic.
• We had an awesome belated Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday. Though the turkey was from frozen, it was still juicy and tasty (yes, salt-brine!). We also an amazing sweet potato and marshmallow dish. And pumpkin pie, of course (Thanks, Emelie and Stef!). I’m still full from the whole affair…
• You’d think with the clocks going back, I would technically be getting up earlier so I could show up to work “on time”. Uh, make that a big, fat NO. Good thing for flex-time.
• Can I go the week without buying anything? I seem to be seriously eye-balling two things of late: 1) leather bucket bags and 2) high-heel boots, either hiking-style à la Alaïa or Chelsea boots:

From Browns

From STREETFSN

• Fifi Lapin makes me happy.
• I’m still waiting for my subscription copy of The Gentlewoman. Grrrrrrr….
• Could leopard print be over? Welcome tiger print to the scene:

Mulberry Spring 2011 Pre-Collection, Oversized Alexa in ‘Pink Trippy Tiger Raffia’ (I do not jest)