// Fade to #C5C5C5

What’s in your bag? — vol.1

Right, so you could see from title when I set ‘vol.1′, you might sense that this would be/could be another regular feature. I had this idea many years ago when I read an article saying ‘handbag reflects women’s insecurity’. I think I sneered the topic then and it’s definitely difficult for me, an eleven year-old back then to understand how much women rely on their handbags. The article described a perfect example of a woman attending a dinner party (kind of more upper class social event type) carrying her hand bag with a book inside due to boredom may appear. And the second book in her bag is because she thought she might finish the first book at the Appetizer. Funny part is here, the third book she carried in her bag is due to —- ‘I might not enjoy the second one!!’

Now growing up I realize that I, like many female, without a handbag, feel absolutely naked! Still with the curiosity from childhood, I would like to dig in the scene of what handbag people would carry and their very own contents. Here I thank my colleague showing me her bag and to help me creating the very first entry of this topic.

I fell in love straight away with her bag since we first time met in January. She found her bag at Zara Sales on boxing day 2009 and had since held on it tight. It’s in a mid grey soft leather with wooden handle and a practical shoulder strap.

Most interesting thing caught my attention is a set of 3D playing card with different cats images. She’s a cat lover and enjoys playing card in the old man pub near where she lives. The cards are part of Christmas presents from her boyfriend (how sweet and thoughtful, all boyfriends take note here!)——-Rose Drops, random sweet given by BoyF for no reason because she loves rose.——-Prada Perfume No.3 Cuir Ambre 30ml——-Wallet by Amy Morris for Sara Berman.

Pink Mac Lipstick amplified / Elizabeth Arden 8 hours cream / Chanel Pressed Powder, she got from Selfridges because it was a shit day and needed something special to cheer up!

White 16G iPhone. She loves blogging and eBaying, but confessed to be a lazy iPhone user as only downloaded 1 App so far (which she hopes it’s growing slowly). But she got lots of music and currently listening to Florence + Machine and The History of Blues.

Luella CatsEye Sunglasses / Pens & 2GB USB Keys, she’s a designer as you could guess now / Turban for rainy day as she doesn’t like umbrella and hat. / Paracetamol, her quotes ‘need it’ just in case!!

Alexander McQueen Scarf, a birthday present from BoyF and surprisingly selected by himself after McQueen’s tragic news as he wants her to have something collectable of McQueen’s (all BoyF take note here again!!)——-’The Book of Other People’ edited by Zadie Smith——-Red Moleskine Notebook in which she got lots of random beads (a total designer thing)

And of course she got house keys plus bike lock keys, a little lucky cat from a Tokyo trip and this little metal house charm which turns out to be a tape measure!

–’How long do you intend to use this bag?’

‘I’m going to use it not until I’m bored of it, but until it breaks and falls apart!’

That’s how much she loves it.

And so do I !

Tags: Amy Morris, Chanel, Elizabeth Arden, iPhone, Luella, MAC, Moleskine, prada, Sara Berman, Zadie Smith, Zara

Return of the Super Woman — Kristen McMenamy

Powerful full lips, ginger red hair, dramatic body pose, that is Kristen McMenamy. I vividly remembered her from my early teenage time by flipping through Elle and my finger tips stopped at the Versace advert. There she stood and seemed shouting out—-’I am the 90s power women!!’

Even with the cutsey floral print in Prada’s campaign just before mid 90s, she still looks very powerful and womenly there. The young I used to think how perfect she looks there and dreamt about myself how I would want to look like her when grown up.

Lanvin invited her back last year for their campaign which is a real surprise to me as I couldn’t recognise her at all.

Until she had the offical catwalk return appreared on Viktor & Rolf AW2010 catwalk show just finished in Paris.

I know it’s absolutely crime to mention a lady’s age but being 43 and looking like this, she is a true Super Woman!

Tags: Kristen McMenamy, Lavin, prada, versace, Viktor & Rolf

The sound of Spring/Summer 2010

There’s no doubt that choosing the right music for a fashion show is important. I once read an interview with a designer who said that it can be compared to selecting the right soundtrack to a movie. It not only sets the mood, it also helps the spectators understand the designer’s vision and inspiration. I’ve compiled a list with some of the tracks used by designers for the spring/summer 2010 shows. Listening to some of these songs makes me wonder – what do these songs tell us about the collections? The inspiration? The person who buys them? Or even the label or designer?

1. New Order – Perfect Kiss (Dunhill, Paris Menswear Fashion Week)
2. Phoenix – Lisztomania (Yigal Azrouël, New York Fashion Week)
3. Deadmau5 – Ghosts n stuff (Versace, Milan Fashion Week)
4. Lil’ Mama – Lip Gloss (Prada, Milan Fashion Week)
5. The Beloved – Sweet Harmony (Jil Sander, Milan Menswear Fashion Week)
6. Metronomy – Hearthbreaker (Diskjokke remix) (Balenciaga, Paris Fashion Week)
7. Little Boots – Mathematics (DKNY, New York Fashion Week)
8. Gossip – Dimestore Diamond (Max Azria and Nicole Miller, New York Fashion Week)
9. The Kooks – Sofa Song (Burberry Prorsum, London Fashion Week)
10. Peaches – Downtown (Simian Mobile Disco Remix) (Etro, Milan Fashion Week)

I’m not sure, but judging from the sounds of it, spring/summer 2010 doesn’t only look good, it sounds good too!

Photo source: Style.com / Marcio Madeira

Tags: balenciaga, burberry prorsum, DKNY, dunhill, etro, jil sander, kasia struss, max azria, nicole miller, prada, versace, yigal azrouël

Fashionomics

The past three months have been insanely busy, so I haven’t had the opportunity to post much. However, I have been writing a few drafts in this period that I will try to wrap up and post in the coming few days. First one up – Fashionomics!

There’s an economic theory that says that hemlines rise in good economic times and drop in poor times. If one was to judge by the hemlines at some of the fashion show weeks this season, the economy is definitely skyrocketing next year and the recession will finally be over.

Yulia Kharlaponova in Lanvin.

» Read the full post

Tags: anja rubin, Chanel, ginta lapina, lanvin, lisanne de jong, prada, proenza schouler, spring/summer 2010, versace, yulia kharlaponova