My MANy Bags Trendspotting #37

Below: Model backstage at D&G Spring Summer 2010...Love the oversize cardigan over the v-neck t-shirt. Nothing too forced...just effortless.

Below: Cute guy in Stockholm who is not afraid of colours. Look at how he rolled up the sleeve of his pink tee with his blazer. The deep purple jeans is a great combination:-)

Below: Milanese men are simply fashion savvy...simple tee spruced up with an interesting 'tribal' necklace.

Relaxed Styles - Simple Tees...

Sometimes the inspiration for an outfit can kick start from a simple t-shirt. Put a slouchy oversize cardigan over, wear under a blazer or adding jewellery on top, effortless chic can easily be achieved even for this most basic of garment. I love the way the outfits above are so simple and non-contrived. Nothing too planned or forced which is the key to dressing well.

T-shirts are also especially appropriate in hot humid climates of Singapore or during summertime, so these looks are practical:-)

I love tees. It's no-frills, comfortable and timeless:-)

Source: Dolce & Gabbana, The Fashionist, Sartorialist (From top to bottom)

My MANy Bags Lookbook #05

Lazy Sunday...With A Bit Of 'City Cowboy'!

Since I was so smitten with the latest D&G Spring Summer 2010 sexy Cowboys, I decided to put together a look based on the colour tones of the wild west. Of course, mixed and matched to myMANybags taste:-P

A simple Number (N)ine tan coloured cardigan kicks off the whole look. The silk pocket trim and the sleeve crochet pattern gives off a vintage feel. Paired with D&G's latest 'Cowboy Boots' print tank top to sex it up a bit. Relaxed fit YSL jersey trousers will ensure optimal comfort for lounging around on lazy Sunday afternoons. As for jewellery, it will have to be my current obsession, the nonchalant Martin Margiela nail pendant necklace that adds a touch of 'workwear' fun. Desert browns, beiges and whites... fresh country style palette, perfect for the most easy day of the week.

Click here to see my other lookbook proposals!

Source: Dolce & Gabbana, Matches Fashion, Browns Fashion, Marni

My Shopping Conquest #76

Below: D.I.Y 'Margiela joy'...

Martin Margiela Silver Necklace With Nail Pendant

Yes, with the help of a reader...I finally laid my hands on this 'nearly-escaped' Martin Margiela Silver Necklace with Nail Pendant:-)

Thanks Jeff...

Instant shopping gratification is just a click away...:-P Best part...u only need to do it yourself:-P

Retail price: Euro $140 (Sale @ Euro $84 with Euro $35 postage. Sucks!).
Where to buy: www.thecorner.com

My MANy Bags Sales Updates #31

Mulberry Online Sale Preview Starts 23 June 2009!

All Mulberry fans, boys and gals alike...retrieve those emergency, DEFCON 5 credit cards:-P...time to unite and save the world economy all over again!

This time, the long anticipated Mulberry online sale will commence on 23 June 2009, 0900hrs GMT with a sale preview. On top of the discounts offered, purchase during the preview will entitle you with an extra 10% off the discounted price. So shop shop and do more shopping! Markdowns will range from 30% to 50% (UK full retail prices is already cheaper than Asia's, so sales will be an even better deal!).

Click on this link to get to the sale preview site. (The site will only be activated on the sale date). I got an amazing Large Bayswater at a great price during last season's sale:-P Mulberry do ship internationally!

Thanks to the kind ladies of Mulberry, I have received info about the bags up for sale. And my...some really good deals and gorgeous pieces are beckoning. Here's my picks...this time for the ladies too, since their women's bags are exceptionally appealing this season.

For the boys:

1) Mulberry Taylor Tote In Denim Ticking - Now £196 (50% off from £395!). Smart and casual, perfect for a day out in town in handsome stripe denim ticking fabric. I have the Meygan Holdall in this material and I love it. So light-weight and roomy. Now at 50% off...even more reasons to grab this!


2) Mulberry Antony Holdall - Now £290 (50% off from £595!). For the boys who want a bag for the office and keep that laptop and documents, this bag is the perfect choice. Definitely worthy of the boardroom. Comes in classic Mulberry colours of Oak, Chocolate and black. Must buy now at 50% off!


3) Mulberry Eliot Holdall - Now £416 (30% off from £595!). The Eliot holdall is a brilliant companion to the gym. And with colours like white, blue and deep red, it is fun and will be a timeless piece to take you places.


For the ladies:

1) Mulberry Jenah Shoulder Bag - Now £346 (50% off from £695!). I love the gold colour with the interesting juxtaposition of cracked leather and smooth soft leather. The chain handle is a classic and timeless design that will look perfectly at home for glamourous evenings! Comes in black and silver too.


2) Mulberry Shimmy Tote - Now £408 (40% off from £681!). Love shimmy! It's glamourous with the oversize hardware. Versatile for day as well as night. And a shoulder strap means another style to carry. Chic bag for sure:-)


3) Mulberry Bayswater Clutch - Now £346 (30% off from £495!). It's a clutch and a shoulder bag. What more can you ask of duality in function and design. Gorgeous, sexy lipstick red is my favourite.


4) Mulberry Ava Clutch with Chain - (original price £485) I am not sure what discount this lovely clutch will be. But grab it in exotic snakeskin to feel luxurious. An eye catcher for evenings and parties:-) The pink one is simply exotic and sweet.

There are others bags going for markdowns as well. And lucky ladies, you even have shoes going for up to 62% discount (The buckle boot in pebbled and cracked leather). Ready-To-Wear pieces go as much as 50% off too. But those can only be bought at the actual Mulberry stores.

In summary:
Womens Ready to Wear (50%)
Mens Ready to Wear (50%)
Leather Bags (30-50%)
Small Leather Goods (30-70%)
Shoes (49-62%)

Let us all rejoice in 'retail therapy', Mulberry style. Once again, thanks to Mulberry for all the exciting sales info.

(On a last note, anyone who buys anything during the sales, update and send pics to me!:-) Love to share your 'shopping loot' to other bag fans:-P)

Source: Mulberry

The Material Boy #296

Below: The brass version as sold in www.oki-ni.com. Such an interesting necklace.
But sold out:-(

Below: And I was too late to buy the silver version from Club 21 Mens...grrr...

Martin Margiela Nail Pendant Chain Necklace

I had a close call with this Martin Margiela Nail Pendant Chain Necklace. First seen on the pages of Vogue Hommes International and finally on the current issue of Style Magazine, Singapore, I was immediately smitten by the weird and yet interesting concept of this piece jewellery. Alas, I mae up the decision too late to buy the necklace from Club 21 mens. It got sold just hours before I returned to the store last Wednesday to buy it. At an incredible price of SGD $229, this was one Margiela piece that needs to be owned! Perfect for dressing nonchalance, bad boy attitude with an edge. So sad, I miss out on this piece of jewellery. I sourced online for the necklace, but it was all sold out everywhere. Who bought this necklace in silver from Club 21 Mens last week?!!???! :-)...time to get some claws working there:-) Just kidding.

I hope to find these in some other ways. Wish me luck. I shall pray hard to the shopping gods to let me chance upon it again. Next time there will be no hestitation. Good things sold out fast!

Source: www.ok-ni.com

Retail price: SGD $229. Where to buy: Club 21 Mens at Four Seasons Hotel

My Shopping Conquest #75

Below: Japanese label Undercover creates interesting pieces and are very exclusive:-)
I love the packaging, has a vintage ornate feel...

Below: Peek-a-boo!

Below: Love these preppy looking Fabric Covered Badges...comes in a set of six
for you to mix and match. How fun!

Below: All feature fabrics from the current Undercover collection. Windowpane checks,velvet, slogan prints etc...time to get creative in matching and mixing:-)

Below: Adding visual charm to an otherwise plain looking blazer...

Undercover Fabric Covered Badges

One of the best buys from the recent Club 21 Mens Sales Preview:-) I was not exactly interested in these very normal looking badges until Madeline, the SA from Club 21 Mens pointed it out to me while I was doing my rounds of sales preview shopping last Sunday. These versatile Undercover Fabric covered Badges comes in a series of 6 in 2 sizes. All wrapped with fabrics used in the current Undercover menswear collection and in varying colours and texture. Checks, prints, velvet, black, beige...which you can mix and match as per your preference. There were 2 sets for sale then, one with a more flamboyant combination consisting of brighter colours and even a leopard print fabric. I decided this series was more understated and with a stronger flair for preppy style:-)

I did not regret my pick:-) I begin to discover how charming these badges can look on jackets or shirts. Costing only a mere SGD $129 at full price, the sale made it an even better bargain! It can transform a simple blazer, adding visual interest and contrast as demonstrated by my pinning of the badges on my blazer:-) Love it!

Thanks to Madeline who is an angel to point these out to me!

I am a fan of collecting pins and brooches, I am crazy about them:-P

Retail price: SGD $129. Where to buy: Club 21 Mens at Four Seasons Hotel

The Material Boy #295

Burberry Prorsum Lightweight cashmere Crinkled Cardigan

I now know what it's like to have a piece of 'candy' dangling in front of you and you cannot have it:-(

I have been searching for this piece of Burberry Prorsum Lightweight Cashmere Crinkled Cardigan as I love the look from the runway and how it all styles up. The wrinkly effect and longer length in classic mid grey melange is a keeper. Matches Fashion stocks it...but it ran out of my size when the sale starts. And now I finally spotted it on sale on the Burberry Sale site (tip off from Joe) and in my size (Small!)....grrr....but it does not ship to Singapore!

I have been admiring the picture for many days already...somebody buy it and end my 'misery'!:-P I can almost feel the soft cashmere brushing off my skin...so comfy:-(

Retail price: Now UK 297 pounds (was UK 495 pounds). Where to buy: www.burberry.com

My Shopping Conquest #74

Below: A Burberry shopping bag came home with me today!
Nice packaging, love the ribbon:-)

Below: Another envelope to contain my purchase...

Below: Peek-a-boo...Out peeks the tissue wrapped new purchase:-P

Below: Yes, finally I got the my dream scarf...from Burberry Prorsum this season!

Below: So soft, smooth and light weight...so comfy, I dun want to take it off anymore

Below: Trying my hands at ways to knotting the scarf:-)

Below: The mega check pattern is subtle and yet elegant

Below: As seen on the 'eye candies' of the Burberry Prorsum Spring Summer 2009 runway

Burberry Prorsum Mega Check Jersey Skinny Scarf

From the first time I laid eyes on this Burberry Prorsum Mega Check Jersey Skinny Scarf on the runway, I told myself this will be one of the must-buys for Spring Summer 2009. However, when it finally came in stock at the Burberry stores, the price tag of SGD $795 was a shocker and I decided to wait for the 'end of season' sales to get it. It was definitely a very long wait. But my patience paid off in the end:-P The scarf was still available upon the markdowns at the Singapore Burberry boutique:-) I had a hunch the scarf will still be available since wearing scarves was not part of the dressing culture of Singaporean men...it's simply too hot.

I can bear the wait as I was in no hurry to own the scarf. For me, I just want it for travel. The material was so light weight and comfortable, it will be perfect to keep the chills away in cooler weather overseas. Even my friend agreed about the comfort level of the scarf when he first touched it. The scarf is made of 100% modal with a slight sheen and a worn out treatment which I adored.

I intended to try my luck in getting the scarf during Matches Fashion's online sale today. I saw the scarf in stock on the site the day before. It was definitely cheaper buying it online since current Burberry Prorsum Singapore's discount still stands at 40% off. Upon browsing Matches Fashion today, sadly the scarf was gone so I decided to get it locally at the Burberry Paragon boutique before it sells out (Considering very limited pieces were brought in to the local store). The discount is still substantial at 40% off so I guess I did not lose out too much buying it at the store.

After work today, I hurried down to Burberry Paragon. I had a bit of a 'struggle' deciding which colour to get... a softer cool gray or a olive warm gray, since both were gorgeous. After much deliberation, I finally decided that the darker shade of warm grey best express Christopher Bailey's concept of worn-in looks for the season. The scarf in this colour also looked more 'distressed' and had more personality. It goes as well with dark coloured jackets as does light colours. The scarf is long and wide, when bunched up, keeps you warm while 'emulating a sauna':-P. I simply love the lightness and softness. This is one of the best scarf I had ever found, once around your neck, you simply do not want to take it off:-P

Source: Frillr, Burberry

Retail price: SGD $795. Where to buy: Burberry Prorsum Boutique at Paragon Shopping Mall.

My MANy Bags Sales Updates #30

Matches Fashion Goes On Sale Now!

Another reputable UK based retailer has join in the end of season sales! Matches Fashion is having markdowns on their online website at up to 50% discount! Hurry!:-P Grab great bargains from Balenciaga, Lanvin, Missoni, YSL, Martin Margiela, Acne, Bottega Veneta and many more!

There are many goodies I have spotted...I will post my top picks later.

Happy shopping! Click here to start your shopping conquests at Matches Fashion!

Update: My top picks for the sale as below:-P

Sale season is the best time to stock up on luxurious knits. Think cashmere, silk....soft, light-weight knits are perfect for summer, and they even last you thru winter!

So I have picked out quite a number of gorgeous knits from Matches Fashion. They run out of sizes fast! My size is no longer available. Perhaps some of you lucky ones will find your size.

1) Burberry Prorsum Cashmere Cardigan - now £338 (was £558). As seen on the runway...slouchy unpolished nonchalance at its best!



2) Burberry Prorsum Sheer Cable Knit Cardigan - now £198 (was £298). Another runway piece to be had! Perfect for wearing under coats and jackets. The long length creates an interesting silhouette.



3) Lanvin Silk Cardigan - now £318 (was £458). Again, Lanvin pieces are timeless. So grab it while you have the chance!


4) Bottega Veneta Navy and White Trim Cardigan - now £398 (was £595). Although this cardigan is cotton, but the interesting design warrants a place in your wardrobe. Bottega Veneta is classic!


5) Acne Tassel Loafers - now £118 (was £238). Bright cheery yellow for those happy feet in summer:-)


6) Gucci 'The Holiday' Short Sleeve Shirt - £158 (was £268). The prints tells a story of holiday at its best. So this shirt will definitely keep the wearer and its admirer smiling:-)


Source: Matches Fashion