By Fashion Jeannie

I walked down Orchard Road last week, ostensibly to catch up with a good friend over coffee.  Two hours, I told myself, and I¹ll be back home.  Four hours later and laden with shopping bags, I hung my head down low, wonderinghow I was going to eat for the next three weeks, I fought through the crowds, and headed home.

Officially, the Great Singapore Sale starts on the 28th of May.  But to beat the shopping frenzy, some shops have started putting up the sale flags. I’ve put together of a list of my favourite stores that have gone on sale.

Nicholas

01-323 Stamford House

In my very humble opinion, Nicholas is one of Singapore’s best local designers.  Nicholas’ collections are structured, beautifully draped and most of all practical!  No more sweating while looking uber cool.  And he’s very, very affordable. His jersey dresses hardly go over the $200 mark.

He also carries Vice and Vanity, local jewellery designer with pieces reminiscent of Marni (to me anyway) – made mostly of acrylic and leather.

Prices are slashed up to 90% off  and you get an additional 10% off total bill for Nicholas VIPs, law Society members, OCBC Titanium and Arts Platinum card members. Additional 20% off total bill with a minimum spend of $500

Sale started on 19 May and lasts for  11 days

Eclecticism

Wisma Atria, 01-07 & Isetan Scotts (Eclecticism counter level 2)

Eclecticism carries  LA celebrity brands like T-bags, Sweetees , Rachel Pally, Ella Moss and as well as several pieces of American Apparel.

During the sale, get up to 70% off Free People, Mink Pink, Ella Moss, Splendid, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Orle Kiely etc

Sale started 14 May

Trove

It’s at the Esplanade, so a bit out of the way for me.  But when I go to an event there, I always ensure that I make a pit-stop at this very hip  designer boutique outlet.

Recently opened in December, it is having its ingural mid-year sale.

Designer boutique outlet, Trove is having its first-ever mid year sale.

Pick up brands like Karen Walker, BeaYukMui, Walter, Minimarket. Lover and Sample at 5 – 80% off, with pieces starting at $20.

Good thing is, co-owner Victoria is often at the shop, and I love her frankness. If something looks off on you, she will tell you.  I value honest opinions.

TAXI!!

Sale started Monday, May 17th and goes on to Sunday, June 13th!

Alldressedup

Paragon #02-37, 290 Orchard Road
Isetan Scotts, level 2, 350 Orchard Road
ION Orchard #03-11, 2 Orchard Turn

To me Sven Tan is the fashion designer genius of Singapore.  He helped put Singapore on the global fashion map. Since Tina Tan-Leo of The Link bought his label, his designs have been seen on the covers of international magazines and sold on net-a-porter, yoox and big department stores in the US.

This Summer, the label collaborated with Ketna Patel, Asian pop artist for happy, bright clothes and accessories with fluoro pops.  I expect many of these will go on sale. Get me in line, quick!

Alldressedup, together with the other Link boutiques start their end of season sale on 28 May.  VIPs receive additional 10% savings on sale and regular items.

Jayson Brunsdon

Australian Jayson Brunsdon’s designs are about cinematic feminity, a touch of cinema to drama. His collections exude screen grandeur redefined as practicality is injected into his frocks, giving a clean look of cosmopolitan flamboyance.

He was Australian Designer of the Year 2007 and more recently, being a resident judge on Project Runway Australia.

His fans include supermodel Helena Christensen, pop star Kylie Minogue, actress Eva Longoria and the Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

The label just started its Great Singapore Sale on 21 May.  Discounts up to 70% off.

Wisma Atria #02-47/47A

Her Glass Slipper

My problem is, I can’t resist shoes. When I’m having a bad hair, bad skin, bad mood day, looking into the mirror in a pair of hot hawt shoes always makes me feel like a million bucks again.

Her Glass Slipper is run by some of the nicest people I know in the shoe business in Singapore.  This multi-label store just went on sale.  Get Marc Jacobs at 82% discount, Michael Kors, Nebuloni, DKNY at up to 72% off, 1 for 1 deals and $19 special buys!  Other brands on sale include Repetto, Cocomojo, HGS, Ras, Kenneth Cole, Jinny Kim, Rokail, Chrisitian Lacroix, Holster,Jane Holli, Gambini and Beverly Feldman.

Besides the stores above, the following bigger stores are also on sale:
- Topshop up to 50% off
- Warehouse  up to 50% off
- Karen Millen up to 50%
- Robinson’s up to 70% off
- Fred Perry pop-up shop  up to 70% off (22, Ann Siang Road)
- Guess up to 50% off

Fashion Jeannie is a regular contributor to the groovini.  More Fashion Jeannie stories can be found under the Fashion-Beauty tab. For more info on FJ, click on the ‘About’ tab.

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by Fashion Jeannie

It must be a sign of better times ahead, because in the last few months, a really cool bunch of fashion stores have opened up in Singapore. It’s almost making my online shopping habit obsolete!

MIMCO

B1-29, ION Orchard, Singapore    Phone – 6884 6216

When the Panda bag first appeared on SATC, I really wanted one but couldn’t get a hold of it.  Now, the brand responsible for the phenomenon has arrived in Singapore.  MIMCO’s bags have appeared on the arms of Britney Spears, Beyonce and various celebrities, and this is its first store in Asia.

Prices are reasonable too.  Wallets start from $150 and prices go up from there to about $400.

WITCHERY

B2-48 , ION Orchard, Singapore

It’s FINALLY HERE!!  Witchery has been a favourite brand of mine to stock up on every time I was in Australia on the UK.  And it’s now launched here.  Great quality, reasonably prices work clothes that are smart, simple and sophisticated. Prices are about S$150 for dresses, about $80 for tunic tops

Trove

#02-10, Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue

Weekdays: 12noon-9pm
Weekends: 12noon-10pm

Trove is the brain-child of friends Victoria and Caris who decided that the bargain safari is the way to shop when the economy goes up in flames.

With the single-mindedness of bounty hunters, they set out on a resolute quest in pursuit of past season hits from cutting-edge designers, resulting in a fabulous hoard of off-season finds. Get designer wear from established designers like Karen Walker and Lulu Cheung as well as cult labels like Built by Wendy, Lover the Label, Minimarket. Prices are generally 20 to 50% off retail prices!  New arrivals every 3-4 weeks.

Actually Actually

16 Purvis Street

Cult label boutique, Actually on Seah Street has opened a second store a few streets down.

Featuring cult label/ collections like Someslashthings, StampD, Pretty Ballerina,  this store is lovingly curated.

As part of its opening celebrations, Actually Actually is hosting a fashion photography exhibition until the 28^th of May.

Also, as part of its opening celebrations, they’re offering a 20% off Sneaky Steve shoes.

CatwalkAlley.com

OK, this is not strictly a store, but new online store by the people at online women’s community, CozyCot has just opened  an online store.  www.catwalkalley.com , based in Singapore, sells a limited range of branded skincare and make-up (SKII, Benefit, Bobbi Brown Estee Lauder), make-up, brushes, and branded bags (mostly from Coach).  Prices here are much lower than at stores, but range is currently quite limited.

Fashion Jeannie is a regular contributor to the groovini.  More Fashion Jeannie stories can be found under the Fashion-Beauty tab. For more info on FJ, click on the ‘About’ tab.

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By Fashion Jeannie

Last month, I stepped over to the other side. And am now on a slippery slope to emptying out my retirement fund.

For years, I snickered at people who were into their designer bags. Why put up a year’s salary (if you want the Hermes Birkin) to buy into a pretentious lifestyle of champagne and caviar? I was (and still am. I might add), after all, my own person, my own brand, unlike no other. Buying into Louis Vuitton or Christian Dior clashed with my very ethos of life. Worse, I’d read that there was a 14 times mark-up on Louis Vuitton bags! Big luxury brands were ripping people off left, right and centre!

Then, six years ago, I set eyes on the Balenciaga motorcycle bag. It was love at first sight. It had everything I wanted in a bag – it was casual chic; it had tassels (I am a firm believer that life can be improved with leather tassels and fringes), it didn’t have its brand name emblazoned across the bag; it had the perfect symmetry; and, ironically, it reflected ‘me’. The bag called out to me from the pages of Vogue, Her World, net-a-porter, but I resisted. You can’t empty out half a month’s salary on a bag! But the leather, the smell! I was in love.

Still baulking at the price tag, and holding on to my warped principles, I succumbed to a Shenzhen special – a fake bag.  Yesssss…. the dreaded imposter.   But somehow, it didn’t feel right. I carried it for a few months.  I had a few people exclaim “WOW! Is that THE bag?”

And I could never lie.  It just wasn’t the real thing.  I couldn’t live the lie.  It was in the bin soon after, and I made myself content with Zara and other unknown and high street brands. ..which were fine, but the deep down, I continued to carry the torch for ‘my’ bag.

Then one day last month, after a trying day at work, I convinced myself that I deserved it.  Why work so hard when you can’t give yourself a big treat every once in a while, right?  So I traipsed down to the Balenciaga store, slapped down my credit card, and commanded the sales person to “Give me it!”  It cost me a European vacation, but 15 minutes later, as I lovingly cradled it in my arms, I knew that we were a perfect fit. We belonged together.

While I am in no way a label queen, there was a special something that the bag gave me that I possessed little of before – of course it made me feel a bit more confident in the company of higher-powered people; and it made me more confident when walking into a posh store, but more importantly, it gave me a sense of preciousness.  I suddenly realised the preciousness of friends, of moments, and of life.

It’s funny that a bag’s given this to me. Maybe it’s because a want had been fulfilled. It’s awful to say that something so material has given me a fresh outlook to life, but it has.  And I feel triumphant, that in these instant gratification times that we live in, that I waited. Because the wait was worth it.

The downside, though, is that I’ve started looking at more beautiful babies to collect. And this newfound habit is going to bankrupt me.

So, in an about turn of this mini introspection, I’m going to go into a more frivolous consumer moment, and bring you what I will hanker for another six years before slapping my credit card down for another major bag buy. After all, good things come to those who wait.

1. The Chloe Paraty (in python)

Perfect proportions, the hardware is understated yet decisive, it fits spare underwear, cosmetic pouch, a netbook, and it’s a modern classic.

Various colours and sizes of the Paraty range at the Chloe store at Ngee Ann City, and available here.

2. Kate Moss for Longchamp

The braided detail, the zebra print lining, the Bohemian feel.. what’s not to love! And it’s Kate Moss!

Launched last week at the Longchamp boutique in Singapore at Ngee Ann City

3. Alexander McQueen‘s knuckle duster clutch in python

RIP, Lee McQueen. A truly great loss to the fashion world. I first spied this little beauty at the On Pedder store in Singapore and thought that maybe in time to come, and I ate instant noodles for a year, that I could get my hands on this beauty. But I think these have all been snapped up now, and I will only ever possess it in my dreams.

Isn’t it gorgeous?

4. Mulberry Bayswater Leather bag

Classic lines, lovely leather. This will last you a lifetime without the hefty price tag of a bigger brand label (I won’t mention names). Available at the Mulberry store at Hilton and at Takashimaya.

5. Fendi Peekaboo

Classic shape, a goes-with-anything bag. Subtle hardware. Iconic design.

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by Fashion Jeannie

Orchard Road has undergone abit of a facelift lately, with the sudden proliferation of spanking new malls, because, you know, we need more malls with more mass market brands.  Of the many that have sprouted – Ion, 313, Orchard Central, my favourite, is undoubtedly, the Mandarin Gallery.

I used to love the old Mandarin Gallery.  A little dinky entrance slapped on the side of the Mandarin Hotel, it used to house a dodgy cut-price electronics store, a little boutique selling ostrich skin hand bags, and a whole load of Indie designer stores. Now, after a massive reno job, it’s come back with a vengeance – all grown up and glitzy, while successfully retaining much of its alternative flavour.

Yes, the mall has its prerequisite high-end names – Bell & Ross, Mont Blanc and ST Dupont are here, as is Mauboussin who was an original tenant here, and an eclectic mix of funky stores and eating places selling everything from zen teapots to cult brand jeans.

The best things about the mall are that it’s not overwhelmingly large (I get SO lost at the Ion still). It’s not chock-a-block with three generations of family walking in a line across the aisle, and it has great food so you can chill with a coffee at Jones’ (in my books, they do the best coffee in Singapore), or Ippudo, the best ramen in Singapore.

Y3 (01-05)

A collaboration between Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas, the choice pieces carried here are both comfortable and avant garde.  I used to scour Y3 in Hong Kong, but I don’t have to anymore.

The collection here projects is brimming with street-chic, and street cred. Expect to find scrunched wool pants and Yakutat boots this season.  The shop carries a comprehensive range of bags, shoes, clothing and funky accessories for both men and women.

Terra Plana (02-04)

Inspired by ecological survival, Terra Plana believes in a variety of non-generic products supporting ideas of sustainability. They make shoes that minimize waste and toxin use and maximize product use and love.  Using eco-friendly materials like recycled tyres, and leather car seats and using minimal glue, no two pairs of shoes are alike.  Best of all, they’re not trendy, but rather, are definitively different; more character than fashion.  Stuff I like.  Prices range from about $169 to over $400 for boots.

Atomi (04-27)

Set-up by Singaporean-Japanese couple, Andrew and Mitsuko, the shop features Japan-made or designed products which are not produced in large quantities, and not readily available outside a niche group of customers.

This shop is well curated and is filled with beautiful things linen products (from clothes, to bags and placemats), delicious teas, tea pots.  and collection of watches by Takenobu Igarashi (where only 500 were ever made)

Trioon (03-28)

I first encountered Trioon a few years ago, when the label was a small studio in Bukit Timah, and her clothes sold in indie flea markets.  This label is all grown up now, and designer Wei Ling can often be seen in the store, sketching her new collection.

Prices are reasonable here too, with few items over $200.

Made to measure services are available here too.

Number Fifty (#03-08)

Two years ago, multi-label boutique Number Fifty started at The Heeren Shops, where it bore the name No.50. As fans of the Thai labels it stocked – such as Soda and Tutti – we felt deeply deprived when its Heeren store closed. Now that it has resurfaced, carrying not just the top Thai brands but also new French brands Manoush and Deja Fan, we can smile once more.

Prices are reasonable.  I nearly picked up a blue tweed Soda dress for less than $180.  Then told myself I was researching, NOT shopping.  I might go back next week …

Inhabit  – the other store (02-16)

I bought my first ever pair of True Religions at Inhabit’s first store at Palais Renaissance.  While the first Inhabit stores specialises in designer denim the OTHER Inhabit stocks  ‘it’ designers like Alexander Wang, Dion Lee, Sass&Bide, UnderLigne by DooRi and Rag&Bone.  Pricey but special.

BAPE (02-02/03)

Since BAPE was first founded in Tokyo by NIGO, the label has grown into an international venture and a household brand all in its own right, with a strong and loyal fan bases all over the world. Other than numerous locations in Japan, BAPE also has flagships in major cities all over the world such as Taipei, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles and New York, and now, Singapore.

Here, you can find t-shirts with the iconic logo, hoodies, bags  and footwear.

Jones the Grocer (#04-21/22/23)

The purveyor of fine foods, coffees, and a great collection of cheese is now here.  So rest your tired legs, and lay those shopping bags down for a moment, and indulge in one of the best served lattes  in Singapore.

WOULD WOOD  (03-24)

If you’re a sentimental stationery hoarder like I am, you will fall in love with this store. Computer screens and keyboards may have shoved pen and paper to the far corners of our memory, but a visit to Would Wood is sure to make you want to start your journal again, write a note or 2, or send a card.

This trip, I spotted paper dolls that brought me back to when I was 6, and Cath Kidson notebooks and boxes. Lovely jubbly.

by Fa

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by Fashion Jeannie

2000! The new millennium! When I was about 12, I thought that in 2000, I’d be flying around in spaceships, wearing shiny skin suits that made me look really hot (ok, so in my head, I was Uhura in Star Trek. Bite me). Well into my adulthood now, I can only say that the first 10 years of the shiny noughties have only lead to disappointment-fashion-wise. While, no one other than Uhuru or Giselle would look good in a shiny skin suit, there were fashion fads in the last decade that have been just as bad, if not worse. And damn, we still don’t live in the Jetsons’ world.

1. Crocs

Apparently, factories churn out three million pairs of crocs a month and still can’t meet demand. And their adoption seems to be beyond the usual fashion fad. I remember turning on the TV one morning and seeing my favourite actor, Ian McKellan, being interviewed on a morning show. He was in a gorgeous grey suit, crisp white shirt and a siren red tie …with matching hideous red crocs! Even HE, man of demi-god status (in my books any), had succumbed!

What in the world possessed the universe to go-ga over plastic injection moulded shoes in lurid colours?! Do they not realise that they look like shoes made for trolls and goblins? They’re not even biodegradable so they’ll be ugly forever!

Should you one day, see my Jimmy Choo’s next to a pair of crocs in my (massive) shoe closet, please please stab me with a butter knife.

This video gives me great glee and reflects my deep-seated feelings about Crocs, and what I want to do 3 million times a month.

2. Severely Pointed Shoes

Yes I have a shoe fetish. I could go on about Uggs too, but that’s stating the obvious (I know, Crocs are obvious too, but I needed that mini rant). In around 2002, the fashion world deemed that these weird shoes were what every fashionista needed in their wardrobe. Some approved them because they “elongate broad feet”. To me, they just looked like wearers had alien feet with 5 inch long toes. What gives? The only good thing about them was that if you should see a roach in the furthest corner of your room, you could slam your super pointy shoes down on them, effectively killing them in one fell swoop.

And I won’t even go into how many people broke their ankles tripping over their toes wearing those things.

3. Skirts over Pants

This stupidity , I believe, started in the mid 2000s. It was the perfect look for the uncommited. Wake up in the morning, think ’skirt, pants, dress, which will it be today?’, then have a eureka moment when you go ‘why not wear them all ..together? After all, they say that only intelligent fashionistas know how to layer, right? Ummm… No. Even celebrities can’t get the look right. Look at Pink (a style icon of mine until I came across this picture), Wenday Malick and Jordin Sparks (above pics)

Trust me, the skirt/dress over pants look does NOT hide your thighs, hips, or butt. It just makes you look schizophrenic. Skirt or pants, pick one. Any one. Please.

4. Super-low rise Jeans

I tried to get into this fad, I really did. I bought a pair of super low Frankie B jeans. They continue to sit in my closet today. I can’t even give them away. When did butt cleavage become popular? Worse when guys bought into this trend and showed us how hairy their asses really were when they sat down. Even teenage heartthrob, Zac Efron got into it, with disastrous results (thank god he wore boxers).

OK, so theoretically, super-low slung jeans are comfortable because they sit on your hips, leaving your tummy free from the encumbrance of zips and buttons. Suddenly, nothing stands between you and extra donuts, coke, and mars bars.

The result – muffin tops and other lumpy spillage.

Truth be told, super low rise jeans did look pretty hot – on the right body (eg Britney Spears circa Oops I did it again). You’ve got to have a flat stomach, and no love handles. Unfortunately, unless you’re at the gym every day, and consume no carbs (which would make you really really cranky), or are 19 and skinny as heck, super-low jeans was something that I was glad to see the back of (pun fully intended)

5. Teeny Weeny Shorts

Do you know how long Jessica Simpson had to work out and diet to get into her Daisy Dukes? Well, I don’t know, but if you see her pictures now, you’d know she sacrificed all things pleasurable in life to look the way she did in the Dukes of Hazard movie. Again, unless you’re 19 and have no cellulite or are at the gym every day, it is not a good look. I’m still not sure if you met the afore-mentioned criteria, I still want to see the back of your butt cheeks dangling below the shorts – and if the front is tiny enough for the pockets to hang down, the back is normally tiny enough to let the butt hang down, too. Which just isn’t nice, is it?

When I see women in short shorts traipsing down Orchard Road, I can’t stop the image of sweaty thigh stains left on seats in restaurants. Nuff said.

I really could go on and on about more god awful trends of the noughties, but I’m afraid that I’ve ranted so much, I’ve gotten a strong craving for muffins, coke and mars bars. So before I run off to the shops in my tiny distressed denim shorts and pointy heels (do you think I should wear a mini skirt over my shorts?). I would like to leave with a list of other fashion trends that I feel should not have seen the light of day.

Gladiator sandals up to the knees – unless you have Giselle’s legs, they will look ridiculous on you.

Designer handbag rental businesses – Since the proliferation of ‘it’ bags, businesses where you can rent thee bags have sprouted up all over the world. While this isn’t strictly a fashion trend, I find this vaguely disturbing – that we would find it so essential to be seen with the right product that we’d rent our appearance of wealth.

Celebrities as fashion designers – Paris Hilton with her bling bags, Victoria Beckham with her dress collection (which honestly, isn’t bad), and the ultimate, Lindsay Lohan and her collaboration with Ungaro last year which received atrocious reviews and nearly caused the fashion house to go under. They just prove that people with no talent to start with should just stay within their sphere of expertise.

Picture of Lindsay Lohan’s Ungaro collection courtesy of www.nymag.com

Juicy velour track suits. Even Oprah had one. The most unflattering thing you could wear outside of your home.

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By Fashion Jeannie

Over the last few weeks, fashionistas in Singapore have been going through their wardrobes, generously donating their gently used designer wear to a good cause – Buy to Save – a sale event that will be held in mid December.

Buy to Save is a joint project between local luxury fashion retailer Club21 and UNIFEM (the United Nations Development Fund for Women). Nett proceeds of the sale will go to UNIFEM Singapore’s programmes to end violence against women through public education initiatives, empowerment and character-strengthening program for girls and direct funding to shelters and family centres.

As I write, the clothes are being sorted and tagged, ready for the sale to be held on weekend of Dec 12 and 13 at the Inter Continental Singapore hotel.

For a few select pieces, UNIFEM is holding a silent auction- the kimono Donna Karan shoulder contrast hip band day dress, for example, retails for $5399.

The opening bid for this (pictured left) is $1889 and you can send your bid to auctionbid@unifem-buytosave.com.

The rest of the designer wear will be sold at a fraction of their original price.

Last weekend, I traipsed to the Forum, the collection point of the first part of the programme, Give to Save where people dropped off their designer goodies, and volunteers were sorting and pricing them to be then resold to the public.  There, I felt like I was in (affordable) designer heaven.  Never had I ever seen SOOO many designer brands under such a small roof – Prada, Armani, Donna Karan, Hugo Boss, Miu Miu, Hussain Chalayan, Calvin Klein, Dries Van Noten, Botega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana – who needs chocolate when you got fashion, baybeee!

To my great glee, Saleemah Ismail, the President of UNIFEM Singapore let me try on some choice outfits before they were carefully packed away (no doubt, away from people like me.  I was so tempted to leave money at the counter, and make a mad dash for the exit with my favourite pieces.  But then, I realised I would probably be caught for ’shoplifting’ and I don’t think anyone’s going to be selling any ‘free jeanne’ t-shirts)

On my measly salary, I can barely afford the lining of a Prada evening gown at full price, but with Buy To Save, I actually can… so guess where I’m going to be on the weekend of the 12^th,

Best thing is, I’m chalking up karma points AND feel virtuous while shopping.  How more guilt-free can one get from shopping?

From the groovini:  By the way, MASTERCARD will be donating $2 to Unifem for every purchase if you use your Mastercard to buy.  That’s so cool!

12 & 13 December 2009
Intercontinental Hotel Singapore
10am – 5pm
www.unifem-buytosave.com

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By Fashion Jeannie

I consider myself a reformed shopaholic (I think). I have managed to stop myself from going into shops too often, but when I’m at home in front of my computer, surfing, like the proverbial bee drawn to honey, I inevitably find myself trawling through shopping sites.

Here’s the other thing – I absolutely don’t get Vpost. I’ve tried signing up for it twice – unsuccessful both times. Something about a token being mailed to me, and I had to log in with this token within 7 days or it would be invalid, mailing or faxing in something to confirm address etc etc. Anyway, all too complicated for my poor addled brain. So I’ve found sites that will deliver to Singapore.

Most online stores in the US and UK never used to deliver to Asia, but with the recession, they seem to be realising that we may be a source of income for them. While some online stores put a premium on overseas delivery, many of my favourite online stores have, in the last few months, offer FREE delivery, or a relatively low postage cost.

And what’s more, a lot of them are on sale sale SALE! Oh how I love the sound of that heart-fluttering word.

Revolve Clothing

One of my favourite finds, Revolve Clothing stocks a HUGE array of US-based designer brands. Based in LA, this massive online store stocks everything from Gwen Stefani’s LAMB label to a mind boggling collection of name-brand jeans from True Religion to Hudson, 7 for all Mankind … which incidentally are quite a bit cheaper than the same ones sold in stores in Singapore.

At the sale going on at the moment, there are slashes of up to 70% on many many MANY items.

I am currently eyeing this cute silk dress from Black Halo, who incidentally, makes beautifully structured, wearable clothes. They were US$325, now US$163. The website offers free shipping if you spend over US$100 with them.

I’m currently in love with this Leather Bright Band Cuff Shoe by their house brand. Originally £55, now £16.

Click here to read more »

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Alexander McQueen debuted these 12-inch stiletto/platform/stilts/shoes last week. I don’t have to tell you what I think.

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By Fashion Jeannie

How do you tell real vintage from wannabes?

1. Most people made their own clothes in earlier days. As such, hand stitching is very common in vintage clothes.
2. Labels on authentic vintage pieces were often hand-stitched and some may be inverted.
3. Vintage pieces before the 60’s should not have any clothing-care labels as they were not mandatory then.
4. Zippers were usually made of metal instead of plastic from the ‘30s till the ‘60s. They were often found on the sides during the ‘40s till ’50s. Side zippers, however, were seldom seen in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.
5. Armholes were usually high and small in the ‘70s and earlier periods. Deeper armholes were indications of the ‘80s onwards.
6. Serging (or overlocking) techniques were used since the ‘20s but only became common in late ‘60s/early ‘70s

After finding the perfect vintage piece, how do you care for them?

• Look out for wear and tear of a vintage piece, which is likely to indicate the age of the outfit or accessory. It is   important to do the necessary mending before washing to prevent further damage.
• Do a spot test and follow care instructions indicated on clothing-care labels.
• Hand-washed fabrics such as polyester, cotton and acrylic with mild detergent, using cool water.
• Embroidered pieces, gowns and delicate fabrics such as wool and silk should be sent to a reliable dry cleaning specialist.
• To prevent stretch and tear, store delicate fabrics folded instead of hung. Use acid-free boxes to store delicate and heavy gowns.
• Hang outfits on padded and non-metal hangers only.
• To prevent color fading and deteriorations over time, keep outfits away from direct light

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