J’adore my very first vintage Chanel
As I lament how rough the stocks have been doing in the last two months, let me say that it has been an equally rocky ride on Chanel stocks - the price of the bags that is.
As people watched to see the US markets free fall, eBay bidders watched the price of Chanel yo-yo. Everyone adopted a watch-and-wait attitude.
For the longest time ever, the bids for Chanel were surprising low, I gawked and almost slapped myself at seeing a Jumbo Maxi XL go for a minimal USD$1600. Yes, the same bag that you see glorified on Richie’s and Beckham’s arms.
Or, how about that clutch bag that vintage classic lambskin that I saw auctioned for USD$800?
Comparing to the current Chanel price, that is great divide.
Those days of Chanel eBay hunting were one of the best past times ever. The exchange rate was in my favour, coupled by low bid rates. Hey, I think I was close to Chanel heaven.
Well, I confess, I got lucky and score myself this beauty for a really affordable price.
I fell in love with this bag on first sight when I saw it on eBay. What is there not to like about the golden logo, something so different from the usual CC turn-locks or the mademoiselle lock.
It’s really tiny, but manages to store my essentials - phone, lip balm, wallet, car keys. And over sometime, the purse softened, expanded and became more charming then when it first arrived.
The chains can be tucked in, and voila, it becomes a nice clutch with character.
After owning one semi-vintage Chanel, I have gotten over my fears of owning some old lady’s purse. Vintage Chanel prides itself for being extremely well made for its time. And its true. Some of the vintage Chanels are far superior than current seasonal (and classic) Chanels.
So here sits the mini lady that is 30 years old. She was born from 1980 - 1985. Pretty fine for her age.
J’adore, j’adore, j’adore.
C’est tu?
So long Mr KTM…
Hello folks! How have you been doing?
Two months ago, history was made.
Singapore and Malaysia finally came up with an agreement to have the land that the Malaysian trek was sitting on, returned to Singapore. In return, Malaysia was given a piece of prime land in the heart of the Marina Bay area.
For nature lovers alike, the call to preserve the treks was made. We hoped, we wished, we crossed our fingers.
One month was all that we were given to walk the trek. 2 weekends was all I had.
I lost count as to how much I walked. But it remains etched in my memories.
Enjoy.
I started my walk from the RailMall.
I walked the path in my trusty haviannas. They didn’t break.
But I did spot a lot of worn shoe soles. Unfortunately, the trekking did ruin my toe nails. I had chipped and broken toe nails that had to be glued back.
How timely that half bleached hair was in. Now where did the California sun go to?
An interesting fact is that this number is not the year that the train trek was built. This number denotes the numbering of the bridge. Each bridge has it own unique number.
T-to-t modelling. Watch the arched feet.
I love frangipanis. They are so pretty and elegant.
A freshly fallen flower from the African Tulip tree.
Twenty years ago, I woke up at 7am every single day to watch the train chug pass this corridor.
Adversity.
We love you, Mr KTM.
The August Wind
This month just flew past in a flash.
So many places to go, so many friends to meet. So little time.
Me on the KTM treks.
F21 shorts, studded bracelets and my mosqi patch are the best accessories for this journey.
The Pendulum.
Swinging like a pendulum.
Immersed in a stack of never ending pile of thick solidified tree pulp.
The urge to cut it all off, dye it neon pink; drink some banned liquor and party till the night go down.
Such is the conflicting interest of life.
‘Till the dusk no longer sets at 22 00′, I say.
And away I go, furiously painting red all over town.
Hong Kong: Of friends and fun
This is my final post on my Hong Kong trip with my girlies.
Oh the fun, the glamour and the drama.
No prizes for guessing which is my bag.
So long!
Hong Kong: Breathing in the sights and sounds
I had much fun walking the streets of Hong Kong with my girlies and it’s much regret that I’m ending my posts for this trip soon. =(
On day three, we woke up really early to cross over from Tsim Tsa Tsui to Central.
I’ve never taken the star ferry and was super excited! It’s a really inexpensive way of travelling across the bay.
Limin will kill me for putting this picture up. But, check out the smile on our faces!
Wenbing loves me, I love Wenbing, we love Limin!
Once we alighted the ferry, we headed immediately to the Golden Bauhinia monument.
My friends had great difficulty taking a picture of this monument without any humans in the way. Ta-da! Amazed that I did.
Wearing: H&M Black maxi dress - purchased in HK! Love this so much. Asos leather bag. Grey jacket by Stephie’s shop - totally worn to death.
Limin says she loves this picture a lot. So I will upload this on her behalf.
While goofing around the bay…
You probably spotted me wearing this grey jacket like 9 times out of 10 pictures from my travelogues. This is an item that I really love so much. It completes my outfit. I have two of them in grey, one in black, one in blue. But my favourite is still the grey. What am I going to do when both are all tattered and torn? Sigh.
Exploring Central is easy peasy.
Argh, I miss my long wavy hair. If only I had not been so tempted as to ask my hairstylist to chop it all off! But, it was between the chops or having split ends in the middle of my crop. Decisions.
While I get totally engrossed with my dried hair. It is obvious that Ganny really does not like to take pictures with me.
Oh well, love that girl anyway. Even more after Margarita and Mojito.
I love this other girl as well.
While you look past the love-struck look - evidence of having too much fun in Hong Kong - that is the world’s longest travelator.
Tucked away on one of the streets here at Central lies the most famous bakery shop of them all… Tai Cheung Bakery. At SGD1 per egg tart, hello this is heavenly inexpensive and so good. I bought a dozen.
Being half a Cantonese, one of my other favourite bakery delights is this…
Steam caaaaake!!!!!!! I love steam cake! It always made my day when my mum packs one for me for my school lunch.
Aye, immediately after this short detour to get delicious pastry…
It’s back to Tsim Tsa Tsui.
Thankfully, shopping makes up for it all.
Christmas wish… AE would you come to Singapore?
Winter Solace
I had in mind to blog about Hong Kong over the weekend. But being a klutz I left my charger in the office and have resorted to using my dad’s laptop.
As it turns out, the weekend wasn’t too bad. I watched the final sequel of Harry Porter with my gal pals and loved most part of it - must they really put in the last portion?
The icing on the cake, has got to be hearing that my Samantha Wills earrings are finally back after six months.
Kenneth Jay Lane of Australia, Samantha Wills has a huge following in Hollywood.
Picture credits: Samantha Wills
For one, Drew Barrymore is a huge fan. I think she tops the list.
And the Duchess, Fergie.
Not to mention, Wills’ earrings were featured in the ever so popular, cult fashion movie - Sex and the City.
For those who are craving to buy this pair of sold-out earrings, they are still available at antipodean.
I love collecting jewellery, and when I saw these on sale, I knew they were coming home with me.
Picture credit: Antipodean Sg.
How gorgeous are these?
But as luck turns out, we were like star crossed lovers.
They brought in a second pair on my request, as the first pair’s hooks were rubbed bare of the promised silver and I have awfully sensitive ears
Unfortunately, the moment I brought it out of the shop, some crystals fell off! I was as shocked as I was excited the moment I laid my hands on them! So I brought them back immediately. As the attendant handled the earrings, more crystals fell off!
Imagine our horrified faces.
So 6 months worth of wait, and kind patience of the shop owner and attendants - thank you so much - to source for people to repair the item. It’s back!
Doesn’t this remind you of mooncakes?
There are missing stones, but the earrings’ bling makes up for it.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous.
Thank you so much Antipodean!
Hong Kong: 山和水
Kowloon Hong Kong
We like Hong Kong
That’s the place for you
Walking down the street full of joy
Come here come here richshaw boy
Take me down the street Chop Chop Chop
A Habba Habba Joe Ding How Ding How
Kowloon Kowloon Hong Kong
We Like Hong Kong
That’s the place for you
There are a few places in Hong Kong that you must explore.
The first on anyone’s list, should be causeway bay.
Visit at about 19 00 and wait to catch some junk boat and the light show at 20 00.
The light show runs daily and spans across both sides of the water body.
Along the bank, spend some time to walk the avenue of stars - a spin off from that of Hollywood.
It is along this stretch of road that you would come across the Olympic torch.
The other popular tourist site is the peak.
Pay a nominal fee to board the monorail or spend 2 hours odd climbing the steep slope. I do recommend taking the monorail. It is quite an experience.
I liken this experience to walking down lombard street.
The peak provides an unblock view of Hong Kong.
Those condominiums’ rent are one of the highest in the whole of Hong Kong.
Although, this house that is situated right at the peak of Hong Kong, must be the most expensive of them all.
I’m almost certain it has appeared in several Hong Kong dramas because…
This street (that is located just next to the house) has!
So has this!
One of my favourite shot of the entire trip. Never realised that my nose can look so sharp!
And why would I leave you without another food post!
Ice-cream for you?
The wanton noodles at Mak’s is really good.
Are you hungry yet?
The streets of Hong Kong
Seriously, travelling on a road trip with best pals you have known for a decade is a crazy affair. No cat fights, but tons of shopping.
HELLO STREETS OF HONG KONG!
What I wore: Bysi ruffled top and Zara leggings. Balenciaga triple tour, turqoise necklace from River Island and Asos leather bag.
Day two, we hit Ocean Terminal and Pedder Street to check out the fuss.
In many ways, Hong Kong reminds me so much about Singapore. At every turn in the city, you will see a luxurious brand.
But of course, my heart never strays far away from…
Unfortunately, it turns me off that I have to wrangle my way through the thick crowd to get into Chanel. So, goodbye my love. I’ll see you in Singapore.
I did, find the time to check out the first Shanghai Tang shop in the world at Pedder Street.
While the exterior looked Eastern and promising, the shops in this building failed to impress. With exception of this…
In typical Singaporean style. Spot the slippers.
Moving on, I did find a shop that I was drooling over.
I’m a huge fan of Nars’ blusher. My favourite colours are Orgasm and Deep Throat. While I had no qualms about buying another blusher, I had difficulty parting with their $80 Kabuki brush. If only I hadn’t cave into my Chanel make-up indulgence…
To balance beauty shopping, there is always a need to buy some clothes!
Way before H&M decided to come to Singapore, there was H&M in Hong Kong. And boy was it fun!
I love my girlfriends.