Planning upcoming outfits to wear during Paris Couture Week

Ok, so I really should be wrapping up my packing, as I leave in a couple of days.  As invites have started rolling in, I realised that it will be more than the 1-2 shows that I will be attending at Paris' Couture Week, so started panicking as that means I need more 'dressy' outfits.  I have been spamming my Instagram feed with outfits I'm thinking of wearing, and for my own reference, thought I'd post them here, so I have them on the one page.  There is another dress I had long planned to bring which is at the tailor (along with a few other pieces I'm hoping to pack - talk about last minute! I'm picking them up the day before I take off!).  I had only planned on bringing one pair of dressy shoes, but that has proved a challenge, so I'm trying to pack shoes that should hopefully suit a variety of outfits and that aren't too bulky:

T-shirt: Bonds, Dress: Chloe (by Phoebe Philo), Clutch: Dries Van Noten, Sandals: Dries Van Noten

Dress: Malaysian hand-painted batik 'maxi' dress, Shoes: Margiela for H&M plexi booties, bag: Dries Van Noten - when I bought this dress, I thought it was so Dries Van Noten, and something I could picture Cate Blanchett wearing (not sure why). Am also thinking these may suit some minimal flat DVN sandals I have (and are pretty light, if I'm to add it to my growing shoe list)...

Dress: David Szeto (unfortunately you can barely see what it's meant to look like), Clutch and sandals: Dries Van Noten

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim x Koi Suwannagate, Clutch: Dries Van Noten, Shoes: Margiela for H&M plexi booties

as before, but bag: Chanel reissue, with this outfit I'd prefer black sandals, but I can't seem to find mine! Don't know where they are since I moved...

And again.

I thought perhaps to avoid bringing/smooshing my Chanel bag I'd bring the Dries Van Noten clutches which are more compact and less 'delicate' to pack, but I'm not sure yet...

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What I wore today: Bonjour! OOTD and FOTD...

Been on Instagram a bit too much: 

FOTD: 1. NARS concealer duo ginger/custard, 2. Benefit Brow Zings, 3. NARS bronzer in Casino and 4. Ita brush, 5. NARS blush Exhibit A and 6. Yachiyo brush, 7. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill stretch lengthening mascara, 8. Shu Uemura eyelash curler,  9. Chanel Illusion D'ombre Mirifique e/s and 10. NARS #15 Smudge brush, 11. Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation and 12. Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani #400 heavily sheered out (as I couldn't find my Sheer #4 lipstick I usually use) - all this yet I for a 'natural' look!

1. Three Floor Ginta embroidered jacket 2. ASOS Bonjour striped top 3. Zara black skort

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What I'm wearing today: Zara embroidered bomber jacket and Isabel Marant Bobby sneakers

After seeing these pics I changed into my larger-sized bomber, I think I like it slouchier when worn with sneakers...

I didn't actually crop my face out, my camera did...I'm terrible with tripods!

Was going to wear my Zara skort today, then swiftly changed my mind on seeing how horrendously pale my legs are...

1. Zara embroidered bomber jacket (was lazy and borrowed previous pics from here - it was too hard getting the camera to focus properly with the timer function!)
2. Bonds neat raglan t-shirt (bought for $15!)
3. Topshop Boutique silk jogger pants (sold out, but similar here - am thinking of upgrading mine to these, mine are a bit big, and I have to roll the waistband a few times)
4. Isabel Marant Bobby sneakers in Taupe (available here, and in craie here)

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Recent buys - PS. Free Shipping at MyTheresa!

Ah, 'coupon codes' - where would we be without them? With a fatter wallet, most likely...but I have made heavy use of them on recent purchases that I was going to make regardless, so perhaps a slightly fatter wallet with them? Well, that's my story anyway, better stick to it for now...

The latest free shipping code I came upon cinched the deal on an item I had on my 'wishlist' for quite some time and was almost about to purchase without it *whew*

From top centre and clockwise: Willow classic silk tuck shirt (with the 30% off code Willow recently offered for 24 hours only), 3.1 Phillip Lim black cut up silk 'Nueva York' top (MyTheresa has free shipping until the 7th of May! I usually baulk at their €60+ shipping fee), Zara crossover checked shirt, Isabel Marant Bobby sneakers in Taupe (am head over sneakers 'in love' with these, and its uber soft velvet leather! Wish I had bought them from the start!), Equipment black silk Signature shirt (made use of the recent 20% off code Shopbop had on offer), Velvet by Graham Spencer Yurel striped top - free shipping at Matches Fashion! Use code: MAYFREE), Current Elliott Infantry jacket (available in beige at Shopbop), and Zara embroidered bomber (ok, confession time, I bought another one, one size smaller than the first one - which I used today, as I wanted a 'back-up', as I like mine so much, plus I wanted one not-as-oversized).

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Lil J&J's turned 1 and 3 respectively yesterday, and it was a crazy busy week for me (despite the simple party we threw), but it was absolutely worthwhile in the end, seeing how happy they were (especially Lil J#1 - she had an absolute ball this weekend, not only at the party, but having her cousin lil J#3 visit from Sydney). 

xx

Oops, I did it again! Recent Buy: Zara embroidered bomber jacket

And so continues my obsession over embroidered bomber jackets...

I was recently chatting to my sister (who lives in London and blogs for J'adorais), about an exciting find I came across on Zara's website.  As I was typing that to her, she was typing about a jacket she saw in Zara with my mom when visiting her in Paris, and that they both thought of me on seeing it.  I sent her the link to mine: and voilà! It was the same jacket! They know me too well!

Remember the embroidered bomber jacket I scored for $5 at NHK's flea market in Tokyo during my Japan trip?  Unfortunately, being vintage, the jacket had seen better days, and it was always a little too big for me, as it was in fact a man's jacket.  Regardless, I wore/wear it a lot.  But I was always on a lookout for a replacement (although I'll still keep and wear the Japanese jacket).  Isabel Marant's Pieric silk jacket almost fit the bill, but sadly its price did not.  In fact, I like the embroideries on the Zara jacket much much more!

I hunted one down in my size (it's not currently in stores here Down Under, and don't know when/if it will be), and am so glad I did!  I find it absolutely beautiful...Oh, and it's reversible! Its simpler black and 'silvery taupe' side can be thrown over almost any outfit.

PS. Doesn't mean I have stopped day-dreaming about the 3.1 Phillip Lim bomber, (even if I found a money tree in my garden, I have only found the yellow version in a US size 2), but I almost like them on par...

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Street Style at Autumn/Winter 2013 Fashion Weeks - The Embroidered Bomber Jacket

my pic - a sneak peek of an upcoming post (watch this space)

It comes no secret to those (1 or 2) of you who have been following my blog for some time to know that I have a huge weakness for embroidered pieces, particularly oriental-themed embroidery.  I am also a huge fan of 'sporty luxe' items like silk hooded and bomber jackets, and tapered jogger pants. 

pretty embroidery + 'sporty' pieces = match made in heaven 

Obviously I'm not the only one to think so, as embroidered bomber jackets made quite a few appearances 'on the street' during the Autumn/Winter 2013 Fashion Weeks.  My favourite piece obviously being the breathtakingly beautiful 3.1 Phillip Lim jacket (almost as breathtaking as its price, and the fact that even if I came upon a money tree, it'd be to no avail, as they're practically selling out everywhere, boo!), as well as the Ginta embroidered jacket: 

3.1 Phillip Lim Embroidered Jacket

Proenza Schouler jacket

Three Floor Fashion Ginta embroidered bomber jacket (can't wait to wear mine)

3.1 Phillip Lim embroidered souvenir jacket

pics via grazia.it, vogue.com and style.com 

For those who are interested:

The Ginta Embroidered jacket can be purchased here.

The 3.1 Phillip Lim embroidered jacket (the first and last jacket pictured) are available for purchase at (although they're selling out as fast as I can blink):

Net-a-Porter and Net-a-Porter US

Saks Fifth Avenue

Kirna Zabete

Selfridges

Just putting it out there so I can live vicariously through you...

The Ginta Embroidered Bomber Jacket

It all started with this picture from the blog 'We the People', so I have Jessie to blame thank (why I am even thinking of jackets when it is 34ºC out there?):

My eyes went as wide as teacups as I saw the jacket: the tweed, the embroidered cranes, it's a BOMBER! I excitedly clicked on the link next to 'jacket', but it sadly did not lead me to the actual jacket pictured.  I frantically tried to find the jacket with vague descriptions via google, but alas, no luck.  Then serendipitously, a few days later whilst perusing Australian model/photographer Zanita's blog (I hadn't checked her blog in quite some time - how gorgeous is she?), and saw her wearing the exact same jacket:

This time the link next to 'jacket' took me to the actual jacket, and I was uber excited to see it was 'affordable'! Don't you hate love hate love it when a blogger links their purchases? Well, it's a love/hate thing because sometimes the items are out of my reach, or when it is within my reach, I sometimes chastise myself for being influenced to part with my money because I saw it on a blog (because then that means I really shouldn't spend so much time looking at blogs! And also because I feel like I'm a 'lemming').  Well, after doing a quick search on the jacket, it seems there was some bloggers party where these jackets were being sold handed out.  My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Everyone seems to have one! Ok, so it is doubtful I will actually bump into any of these people so that we'd have an awkward 'Oops, she's wearing what I'm wearing' moment, but it made me pause for a second.  I paused for another second, because as some of you may know, I'm all about the fabrics, in particular natural ones (silk, cotton, etc.), and this has faux-leather sleeves.  But that was only a two-second pause in total.  I mean, look at that embroidery! 

Embroidery + bomber jackets = Brigadeiro must have 

(remember my vintage score in Tokyo's NHK Flea markets? It's a looking a bit tired lately)

And not just any embroidery, cranes! I have a huge thing for embroidered cranes, and as you may see from my profile pic, they even made their way to my wedding dress. 

 Actress/blogger Ashley Madewke from 'Ring my Bell' (blog) and 'Revenge' (one of my guilty pleasures/TV shows)

Cute-as-a-button blogger Tokyobanhbao

Aimee from 'Song of Style' - I remember when she used to comment on my blog, even asking me how I could afford my purchases - look at her now, being sent clothes and to Fashion Week and what not!

 I like it how blogger Soraya wore hers with a shirt, leather pants and sneakers. 

 Ah, PS11...one day...one day...

via Three Floor Fashion.com

It was only after I purchased this jacket that I realized another reason why I liked it so much, it is heavily 'inspired' by the Proenza Schouler jacket I was drooling over for so long...Usually I am good at spotting these things quickly, but I must've been really tired.  I don't usually like buying 'inspired' items, but since I will most likely never ever be able to afford the Proenza jacket, this more wearable jacket will do very nicely...

Unfortunately (for me) I only found the jacket after the 3-day 'spend n save' event, and before before it went on sale last night, so purchased it full priced, but you can now find it at 20% off at Shopbop here.

Obsession fuelled further via New York Fashion Week Street Style: 3.1 Phillip Lim Embroidered Jacket

First shown last September at the Spring 2013 Fashion Week in New York, the 3.1 Phillip Lim's embroidered bomber jacket made its way to the 'street' during the New York Fashion Week in a stunning yellow version worn by Nathasha Goldenberg. As you may all know, I am crazy for oriental embroidery...I am also a huge fan of bomber jackets, especially if there's a twist like on this gorgeous specimen: beautiful fabric and embroideries...Now, if only I could do something about the $1,250 price tag! That and finding one in the first place (I popped my name on the 'pre-order list 'just for fun', but haven't seen the yellow version anywhere). Be still my beating heart:

 

New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012 Pt 5: P is for Proenza Schouler and Preen

Proenza Schouler

Hernandez described this collection as "Asian, but in a New York way."- and I absolutely LOVED it!

Thin strips of navy, black, and white leather were woven into a tiny grid for a side-zip jacket - brilliant! Needless to say, my favourite pieces were the beautifully embroidered pieces with oriental themes, the 'chinoiserie' dresses, the varsity jackets embroidered with pheasants on the chest; as well as the woven paillette skirts with which they were paired, and the stunning quilted-satin cocktail dresses with the bird embellishments. This has to be one of my favourite collections of the PS boys to date:















Preen

I found quite a few pieces by the duo to be reminiscent of Dries Van Noten's FW'11 collection, with their own twist of course. What I loved most were the botanical flowers and butterfly prints, which were made modern and fresh with simple silhouettes and panelling with sharp blocks of a very flat matte 'scuba wool' fabric, and manipulated by printing the motifs on sequins and embroidering over them with tarnished silver beading.








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