Fashion

My Cole Haan Bags

Paris B 7 Comments

Doris left me a comment on my previous post about the MO Outlet and I’m so happy to find another Cole Haan fan! I used to walk into the Cole Haan boutique in Starhill Gallery and drool over their buttery soft leather bags, but I’d walk out again, empty-handed, as I could not justify paying the 4 figures they were asking for.

You see, I went to check out prices online and they are so much cheaper in the USA! I’d feel cheated paying RM2000 for 1 bag which you can get in the USA for say $300 (RM1200) or even less. So, I abstained.

That is, until I discovered the MO Outlet in Cheras. Suddenly, these bags became affordable! Well, just…

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This one caught my eye first. Its a bright fuschia in the pic but slightly more muted in real life. I love colourful bags so I didn’t mind that it would draw attention. Its a Cole Haan Alexa range, and is rather on the long side. There is no zipper at the top but there are zippers by the side. The no zipper at the top thing bugs me a little but with a bit of care, its actually ok. The straps are long enough to sling, which I like too.

IMG_6225 The other I bought is also in the Alexa range. This one is large – it can fit an A4 file without problems. To be honest, I don’t know why I bought it then as it was really quite big. I came home and googled it and found it was supposed to be a diaper bag!! Wah luxurious mommies!

Anyway, I left it in my cupboard for a spell, and then tried to sell it, but to no avail. Then, I changed jobs and suddenly, I needed to tote around a whole lot of stuff – documents, stationery, wallet, cheque book… and this baby came in handy. Its lined in a tiffany blue nylon lining which is very unexpected, and has loads of compartments, which is of course, useful!

Both bags are leather. The leather is very soft and pliable and feels smooth to the touch. They are also both past season bags, but I don’t quite care LOL… They serve me well, and both together cost less than what 1 new one would cost in the store!

I’ve been carrying my black one everywhere for about 2 months now – dumping it on floors, swinging it around, and it still looks new, except around the corners. I guess this is what a good quality bag is all about! Yes, I love Cole Haan bags, and I’m dying to get more hehe…

Chanel Paris-Biarritz bag collection 2007

Paris B 6 Comments

When I saw the new Chanel Paris-Biarritz line showcased in The Star newspaper today, I knew I had to check it out. I’ve been eyeing a lambskin quilted Chanel forever! At RM6000 for one medium sized one however, I am resigned to merely ogling it in the Chanel boutique.

That said, the bags in this new Paris-Biarritz line looks like stuff I would like as well. They are touted as Chanel’s city bags – larger bags that you can tote around the city while running your daily errands.

To be perfectly honest, I would think that toting a Chanel around town on a daily basis is just a tad too luxurious, even for me. But that doesn’t stop me ogling. 🙂

This looks like one of smooth lambskin in Chanel’s signature quilted look, with a difference. Coincidentally, it rather resembles the bag I presently carry so I can tell you that firstly, carrying a full leather bag is heavy! Secondly, the straps are a tad too short to sling over your shoulder comfortably. But hey! This is a Chanel!

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This one looks like a more manageable size. If I’m not mistaken, its made of crocodile skin. Terribly lux! Crocodile skin is also a lot more expensive, probably because its harder to catch and skin a croc as opposed to a sheep/lamb!

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This next one is similarly Crocodile skin. But this is definitely too large for my liking. I can just imagine how heavy it will be empty, much less when its full!

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This line also comes in the season’s signature metallic colours. Gold and silver. This is touted as the more casual side to the line, though these look like more manageable sizes. I would imagine we would be seeing more of these than the ones at the top, only because the sizes are more practical.

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I think I might shore up my courage and step into the Chanel boutique to check out this line. Prices start at RM4,000 (and please don’t tell me thats just for the toiletry case/clutch thing!) so checking out is all I can do at this point in time.

Bra Straps that show

Paris B 4 Comments

This is a fashion faux pas that really irks me.

I see a girl dressed up nicely – fitting jeans, nice shoes, racer-back or singlet t-shirt or spaghetti strap top, and then, BAM! her bra straps are showing. Don’t they realise just how awful it looks? Not even a pretty lacey bra-strap will make that outfit look good, much less an obviously old one. It tells me that although you took the trouble to dress up on the outside, you did not bother to use the right garments on the inside. All it takes is to use a strapless bra or bandeau bra, and voila! no straps!

Some try to get around this problem, by using transparent bra-straps. Unfortunately, a transparent bra strap is made of plastic and transparent does not mean invisible. You can still see the strap, albeit, its now plastic and in my view, a little too tacky for my tastes. This is especially so, if they are wearing it with a spaghetti strap dress or top or tube dress. Do you realise how awful that looks with a tube top/dress?! Again, strapless bras are the order of the day.

Expense is not an excuse. These days, under garments aren’t as expensive as they were. There are cheaper options, so if you don’t wear clothes that need strapless bras that often, just get a cheaper option. Or get a multi-function bra, one that can be worn with or without straps. At least you’ll never be caught out in a fashion faux pas!

Dresses at Isetan KL

Paris B 5 Comments

I received the latest newsletter from Isetan KL and was taken in by their dresses. They have collaborated with some local designers to launch some collections for Isetan’s in-house brands like Cultivation and Cescendo.

Here are 3 outfits that caught my eye.

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The turquoise blouse was eyecatching to me because of the colour. Somehow this colour makes me look ultra-fair = love hehe… Of course la, must wear things that make you look good right? Its RM129 but when I actually saw it in store, somehow it didn’t look as good as in the picture. I was in a hurry though so I’m going to look again.

The other thing that I really liked is the black wrap dress. I’ve been dying to get one ala Diane von Fusternberg whose wrap dresses are a fashion icon everywhere. I wonder if it’ll make me look fat though 😛 I’ll take a look anyway. I couldn’t find it in Lot 10 the other day.

And here’s another nice looking dress.

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Actually, its 2 dresses. The top chiffon layer is a whopping RM1,099 while the bottom layer (sold separately) is RM999!!! Shocked or not? I was. I cannot imagine paying RM1,099 for a thin layer of chiffon that I can only wear over another layer of clothing or risk shocking the general public.

That said, I think I’ll drop by Isetan soon, if only to look for that elusive wrap dress.

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