Adorably Clueless Me

My Obsession With... Detachable Collars

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:34:00 +0000

I rarely wear jewellery of any kind cos I am a lazy girl, especially necklaces. I find it a hassle having to unhook the chain, put the necklace on and hook it up and to undergo the same process to take it off. Haha, I am just so lazy.

So what do I do when I am wearing a plain outfit which looks blah without any accompanying accessory? I'll put on a detachable collar. It's chic, spices a bland outfit instantly and is much easier to put on and remove :p

Here's part of my growing collection of detachable collars to share with you:

Here's a detachable collar GWP given away with the November issue of Vivi. It is rare to see such interesting GWPs given away with monthly magazines.

It is made of a combination of lace and velvety-type material with a satin lining. My neck doesn't get all warm and sweaty as the satin lining has a cooling effect =) To hold it in place around my neck, all I have to do is to fasten the button concealed underneath the front of the collar.

I got this cute number from ASOS - a cotton collar with pearl and gem embellishments.

Love the intricate details on the collar. This instantly spices up plain outfits. Like the one from Vivi, this one has a hidden hook at the front of the collar to secure the collar around the neck.

This crochet collar is also from ASOS. I got this to glam up my boring tees :)

Unlike the previous two collars, this one doesn't have any button or hook. All I have to do is just to put it over my head and onto my neck :) Easy-peasy!

Here are more examples of accessorising outfits with different types of collars:

ASOS has a good range of detachable collars including cutesy faux fur ones for winter. Check 'em out!! :)

NIMES 2011 Autumn / Winter Collection Mook

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Most of the Japanese mooks out there usually give away predictable GWPs such as lunch bags, tote bags, pouches, etc so it is really rare to see a foldable umbrella bundled with NIMES 2011 Autumn / Winter Collection mook.

The brolly measures 24.5cm x 4cm and weighs only 155g, therefore making it very lightweight. When fully extended, the brolly measures 55cm.

The brolly comes with 2 detachable charms attached to its handle. Actually, the charms were the ones that tempted me to get this =)

The round nautica striped handle is adorable! It is a little tiny though to be firmly grasped in your hand so users have to be careful while holding onto the handle. The brolly also comes in a matching case with a snap button.

The brolly is held together with a velcro fastening. I would prefer a snap button fastening though...

The top of the brolly is so cute with the cherry yellow round tip =)

Here's a shot of the interior of the brolly. In case you are wondering, the material does not offer protection against UV rays but it should be good enough to shield you from the rain and short exposure from the sun. However, I don't think it can withstand strong winds as it is so lightweight =)

Doesn't the brolly look adorable??

L'EST ROSE, Jill Stuart & Care Bears Fleece Blankets!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:23:00 +0000

I recently bought a copy of the December issue of Steady for its adorable GWP - a very cute oversized L'EST ROSE fleece blanket! I love fleece blankets although I don't actually see the need to use them in our hot and humid tropical weather :p Nevertheless, they come in very handy for those long haul flights and coach trips to Malaysia :)

This blanket is the hugest one for a GWP I've seen so far measuring at 106cm (height) and 69cm (width)! It's wide enough to wrap around the shoulders and even around your hips if you have small hips, lol. It comes with a matching detachable strap.

I love the pretty floral rose pattern on the blanket :) Very Cath Kidston :)

The L'EST Rose brand stitched onto the corner of the blanket.

The blanket has 2 buttons where you can attach the detachable strap on to use the blanket as a shawl...

or to roll the blanket up neatly for easy storage. I can imagine Japanese girls using this to keep their shoulders warm in winter while waiting for the fireworks to start at DisneySea :)

So I was saying I love fleece blankets - here's one of the GWP fleece blankets I've collected from an old issue of Cutie magazine - a Care Bears blanket! It's really tiny though and not big enough to wrap around an adult's shoulders. I've used it before to cover my thighs though when I was wearing a short skirt in class :)

And here's another pretty one from an old issue of In Red magazine - pink zebra print Jill Stuart fleece blanket and matching pouch with a Jill Stuart charm. The size of the blanket is slightly larger than the Care Bears one but it is still mighty small.

Both the magazines with these Care Bears and Jill Stuart GWP blankets were sold out long, long time ago but with any luck, you might still be able to find people selling these on eBay :)

Leopard Print Shoes!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:18:00 +0000

Animal prints are all the rage this autumn and I jumped onto the bandwagon by getting myself 2 pairs of leopard print shoes. When it comes to purchasing animal print items, shoes are about as far as I will go. No leopard cardigans or horrors, leopard or zebra print leggings for me!!

So I got these flats from the newly opened H & M in Singapore quite sometime back. They're all out of this particular design now but it should be relatively easy to find similiar designs elsewhere. This pair costs only SGD17.90 if I recall correctly. They are chic and don't break the bank, although not exactly the most comfortable pair of flats on my shoe rack. I have been wearing these mostly on weekends with my black shorts and navy / white / red / yellow tops. The trick to wearing animal prints is to keep the rest of your outfit simple in order for the prints to take centrestage :)

And here's my latest acquisition below from online site ASOS ~ leopard loafers! I got this pair at half price at 35 pounds and even though it was at half price, it was still risky to buy shoes online cos you never know if they will fit you properly and thank goodness these fit me fine. They're a little, just a little, too big but there's nothing insoles or tights wouldn't do :)

Aren't they gorgeous? I love the tassels on the front! I can only wear them out on sunny days as these don't look like they take to rain very well :) Compared to the H & M ones, these are more versatile as they look formal enough to be paired with a dress or suit for work and yet casual enough with shorts for the weekends and the pretty shade of the shoes is neutral enough to go with practically any colours :)

SEE BY CHLOE Mirror & Pouch x InRed Magazine November 2011 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:41:00 +0000

I picked up a copy of the November 2011 issue of InRed as I simply adore the enclosed GWPs ~ SEE BY CHLOE mirror and pouch! A gal can't have enough mirrors, can she? ;)

The mirror measures 15cm x 12cm while the pouch measures 13.5cm x 19.8cm. I adore the combination of autumn colours, especially the mustard yellow and burnt orange colours :) These are some of the hottest colours this fall :)

Here's a close-up shot of the brand logo printed on the front of the pouch. The pouch is made of some kind of polyester material that resembles synthetic leather somewhat. I like it :)

The pouch also comes with a zipper.

The size of the pouch is just right to fit the mirror. Of course, you can use the pouch as a makeup pouch as well.

Did I mention I am so in love with these colours?? I totally revamped my wardrobe recently with many pieces in the latest autumn colours such as navy, burnt orange, mustard yellow and grey. Salmon is another hot colour but I don't think my skin tone can carry it off, haha :)

The mirror appears a little frosty as I have not removed its protective covering yet, haha. The mirror can be used either as a desktop mirror or a handheld one. Do not be surprised at girls (and guys) in Japan holding onto mirrors of such sizes to check their makeup and hair onboard trains :) The mirror is made of plastic by the way.

The next issue comes with a Roberta di Camerino twin bag and pouch set releasing in Japan on 7th November 2011. They look cute but I am skipping these :)

Gucci Suede Folder X Taiwan VOGUE Magazine September 2011 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:44:00 +0000

I was in Taipei last week and spotted the September issue of Taiwan VOGUE at eslite bookstore. I picked it up immediately as it was enclosed with a very pretty Gucci envelope folder! A similar folder was given away with China's edition of VOGUE earlier in June this year which caused a wave of frenzied (or shall I say panic) buying and blogshops and eBay sellers were hawking these as high as USD30 each.

Sorry for the inconsistent lighting in the pictures below...

The folder looks very dark here but it is actually in a lighter shade of brown as shown in the pictures below. It's gorgeous!

The text is hot-stamped, not printed, thus the text comes up beautifully against the suede material of the folder. I must state that the exterior feels like suede but the entire folder is actually made of thick cardboard.

The picture above is probably the closest shade to the actual colour of the folder.

The material on the exterior of the folder doesn't look like it is suede here but it is (at least it felt like it is, haha), and with the Gucci logo embossed, and not printed, all around. Beautiful work, even though it is just a paer folder.

There are people who claimed the folder can fit iPads but seriously, I think your iPad won't be very secure in a cardboard folder :p It will be great for documents though.

Tsumori Chisato 4 Stationery Set X mina Magazine November 2011 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Now, this is something different for a change from the usual totes and pouches given away with Japanese magazines :) The November issue of mina is enclosed with a cute Tsumori Chisato 4 piece stationery set consisting of a notebook, pouch, ballpoint pen and a sticker sheet.

The sticker sheet is cute! Pity there are only three stickers.

The hardcover notebook is thin but nevertheless quite functional.

The pages of the notebook are unlined. I would love the pages with the Tsumori Chisato brand printed on them though but that will cost us, haha.

I love the tiffany blue colour of the pen! Looks chic and expensive.

The magazine describes this as a pencil case but it definitely can hold more than just pens. It comes with a zip closure in the same pretty tiffany blue colour as the pen.

The Tsumori Chisato brand sewn onto the side of the pouch.

As I've mentioned earlier, the pouch can hold more than just pens. The notebook could fit very comfortably into the pouch with room to spare. I can see this as a passport and pen holder for travelling.

A pair of SHIPS socks will be given away in the next issue releasing in Japan on 20th October 2011.

To b by agnes b Tote x non-no Magazine November 2011 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:53:00 +0000

I've cut down a lot on Japanese magazines lately as the recent GWPs bundled with the mags are not exactly enticing enough for me to pay for them. After a while, the GWPs are always either totes or pouches which are really boring cos I have tons of these and honestly, how many totes and pouches can a girl have? :/

Anyway, I decided to pick up the November issue of non-no for, yes, yet another tote but this time, it is a To b by agnes b tote. I bought this cos the tote looks really cute with polka dots and those who know me know I love polka dots :) There are stacks of these at Kinokuniya so there's no real need to rush to get a copy.

The bag masures 25.5cm x 44cm x 8.5cm. The body of the bag is made of canvas while the shoulder straps are made of synthetic leather, something different from the usual canvas material.

The logo brand printed on the front of the bag.

The straps are well-stitched but a little too thin, I reckon.

The bag can fit A4 sized items very comfortably. As seen in the above picture, there are no inner pockets and zip / button closures on the top of the bag. The material is a little see-through but it doesn't pose any major problems since the exterior of the bag is mostly black. The bag is quite sturdy as it is made of good quality canvas thus it wouldn't lose its shape when heavy things such as magazines are placed in it. Compared to the tote enclosed in the To b by agnes b 2011 F/W mook, this one is of better quality, IMO.

A Heather plaid bag will be given away in the December issue releasing in Japan on 20th October 2011.

To b by agnes b 2011 - 2012 Autumn / Winter Mook

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:54:00 +0000

The last agnes b mook which got everyone into a panic frenzy was a disappointment for me cos the bag was very slouchy so I am hoping this one will not disappoint again. So how does this one from its sub-brand fare? :)

The mook comes with a striped canvas tote bag and a polka dot scarf made of polyester. The bag measures 43cm x 27cm x 11cm while the scarf measures 50cm x 50cm when unfolded. The stripes and dots are a signature feature in the brand's Autumn / Winter collection.

The bag is wide enough to contain A4 sized items. There are no inner pockets and zips. Like the bag from the last agnes b mook, this one does not have a sturdy base as well which means... it's going to be slouchy :( The material is also a little too thin for a canvas bag.

Brand logo printed on the front of the bag.

The scarf on the other hand is rather cute :) I love polka dots! The material is a little stiff but it will make a good bag scarf.

The brand logo is also stitched onto a corner of the scarf.

The bag will look good if it is filled up with light-weight items such as a cardigan or a sweater or something boxy like a new pair of shoes in a box. Putting in heavy items such as books will just make it go all out of shape unless you DIY your own bag base using a foamboard. Apart from that, the bag is pretty and the scarf is a nice addition to the bag. Compared to the previous agnes b mook, I'll say this one is way prettier :)

AULA AILA Bedroom Slippers And Pouch X Gisele Magazine October 2011 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:08:00 +0000

I pick up a copy of Gisele once in a while as it is a good source of info on predominantly British and American fashion trends and it gives away very interesting GWPs too. A pair of AULA AILA lace print satin bedroom slippers and an accompanying pouch are given away with this issue.

The slippers measure 26cm length and 8cm width which should fit most of us. The accompanying pouch measures 19cm x 17.5cm. The upper part of the slippers and pouch are made of polyester, giving them a shiny satiny feel which look and feel expensive. The bottom of the slippers are made of foam.

The slippers can be folded and stored in the pouch which come in very handy for frequent travellers. I often buy disposable slippers at Daiso whenever I travel to Japan as many hotels in Japan offer those "leathery" type of slippers to hotel guests which are not very comfortable for me :p

The slippers and pouch share the same pretty lace prints.

The AULA AILA brand tag sewn at the side of the pouch. AULA AILA is a Japanese fashion brand specialising in modern and edgy merchandise.

Unlike magazines like Spring, Sweet and many others, Gisele usually does not feature images of the GWP it is giving away in the next issue. A gelato pique pouch will be given away with the November issue releasing in Japan on 28th September 2011.

Kino brings in very limited copies of Gisele and they get sold out very quickly. I bought the remaining copy on the shelf at the Liang Court branch but I am not sure if there are still copies at the other branches. If you are keen on this, you might want to give Kino a call but not during the weekends please as the staff are usually very overwhelmed by the weekend crowd :)

H & M Hong Kong Haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:19:00 +0000

Image from H & M Singapore website

I never fail to cart home bags and bags of H & M clothes and accessories whenever I visit Hong Kong as the clothes are cheap, trendy and of reasonable quality. Oh well, let's just say my heart wouldn't bleed if my H & M clothes get into a major laundry disaster :) Now that H & M is finally opening in Singapore this Saturday, I no longer have to trot to Hong Kong to get my H & M fix but it will also mean any other girl on the street will be wearing the same H & M threads as me come Saturday. The good thing is, with accessorising, you can create your own style even if the girl standing next to you on the train is wearing an identical H & M dress :)

Here are some pictures of the pieces in H & M's 2011 Fall collection I bought in Hong Kong two weeks back. I believe these pieces will also be brought into Singapore, however, I find that prices here are slightly higher than in Hong Kong if the prices indicated in H & M Singapore's website are correct. The Fall collection this year consists of predominantly earthy tones such as brown, orange and mustard yellow which are so hot right now, along with the usual neutral colours such as black, grey and navy blue. Bright colours are also still in, such as teal, emerald green and purple.

Navy blue 3/4 sleeve dress, HKD129 (approx SGD20)

Mustard yellow satchel bag, HKD199 (approx SGD31)

I love this combination as the bright cheery yellow bag adds a dash of colour to the otherwise plain dress. The dress will look lovely too with a brown scarf and block heels :)

Brown sleeveless dress with white belt, HKD299 (approx SGD46)

Throw on a thin white cardi and it'll make the perfect outfit for work :)

Mustard yellow chiffon dress, HKD199 (approx SGD31)

I adore this dress! I will pair this up with a brown scarf or with charcoal grey tights.

Striped long-sleeved cotton tee, HKD79.90 (SGD12.50)

Stripes are still a feature in F/W 2011 trends and this colour combi is just so hot! I will wear this with my navy blue shorts with brown polka dots or with denim. Stripes and polka dots do go together, so do florals and stripes but I will not pair a striped top with a striped bottom. That's fashion faux pas to me :) I'll look like Hamburglar, haha.

Besides the above pieces, I also bought a pair of polka dot shorts (which my mum says looks like pyjamas, lol), 3 scarves, some hair accessories, some tights (I love, love, love H & M tights!!!), an over-sized top, a scallop top and a long cardi :) My total H & M haul added up to be just approximately SGD250 for the lot. It's insane!!!! :)

Will I be making a beeline for H & M when it opens in Singapore this weekend though? I'll probably pass till the crazy crowds subside in a couple of months' time :) Hopefully the crowds would have subsided by then, lol. To the girls who are planning to brave the crowds this weekend, happy shopping!!!! :) Buy, buy, buy!!!

Plugy Earphone Jack Accessories!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:52:00 +0000

I came across these cute earphone jack accessories in Hong Kong last week. They are totally useless and have no value-add whatsoever to mobile phones but they are so adorable!

This series consist of 6 designs - Bolt, Key, Spring, Apple Stem, Mushroom and Water Faucet (see image of Water Faucet below). I bought these from City Super's stationery section at Times Square, Causeway Bay as souvenirs for my colleagues and friends :) Each is priced at HKD39 (approximately SGD6).

They fit standard 3.5mm earphone jacks so they are compatible with most mobile phones (probably not the older models though). They measure approximately 2.8 - 3.5cm height x 1.8 - 2cm width and are made of PVC.

You can also get these online at strapya-world.com but they are priced a little higher at USD5.20 excluding shipping charges. Plugy has also recently launched its second series of earphone jack accessories on Strapya World featuring everybody's favourite Hello Kitty and Miffy!

These are also priced at USD5.20 but most designs are already sold out within days of the launch. There are still a few units of the blue Miffy ones left the last I checked so I'll hurry if I were you :)

How Do The Japanese Keep Themselves Cool In Summer?

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:34:00 +0000

When I was in Osaka last month, it was a scorching 35 degrees out every day. I was dressed to the barest minimum in my tank top, culottes and sandals with a thin poncho thrown over but I was literally a wet dog by the time I returned to the hotel in the evenings. It was unbearably warm and I wonder how the Japanese ladies could survive the heat in their suits, cardis and leggings without looking like they've been just out from the sauna.

While shopping around Osaka, I discovered their secret to keeping themselves cool. Drugstores, novelty shops and lifestyle stores were all retailing these cool (excuse the pun) sprays and gels which the Japanese can apply on themselves to bring their body temperatures down!

Left to right: Arctic Gel, Liese Hair Refreshner, Afternoon Tea Grapefruit Cooling Bubble Spray, Afternoon Tea Cooling Deo Body Lotion, Mobile Air Conditioner, Head Refresh Spray

Mobile air conditioner sounds wacky! Haha! I love the way the Japanese name their products!

I couldn't resist buying these after seeing the Japanese making a beeline to purchase these items. Besides these sprays and gels, they were also seen sweeping cooling items such as the gel neck coolers and underarm patches. Singapore is a humid and warm country all year round but such products can hardly be seen on the shelves in pharmacies and supermarkets. Hmm, I wonder why?

Oh My Smurfs!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:50:00 +0000

Great Smurfs! Those of you who are born after the 1980s probably have no clue what Smurfs are (there you go, now you know how OLD I am) but during the 1980s, Smurfs were about the only thing that could drag me and my kid brother out of bed on Sunday mornings :) Now that we've all grown up, we still have fond memories of Papa Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Farmer Smurf and of course our favourite Smurfette, and the evil Gargamel and his cat Azrael. Oh my gosh, we used to have all the figurines which cost my parents a bomb back then :) For those who are clueless about Smurfs, here's a very old clip I dug out from Youtube. You'll need to turn up the volume for this one.

Now, we started getting all excited last year upon learning the Smurfs 3D movie would be releasing this year so much so that I've already gotten my Smurf gear all ready since the beginning of this year for the movie release come 1 September 2011 :) I haven't read the movie synopsis and I am not sure about the 3D version but all that aren't very important really. What's important is the revival of childhood memories on the big screen! :) I just hope the movie doesn't spoil it too much for me like what Tim Burton did to "Alice In Wonderland" :(

I bought a Rodeo Crowns mook, I think, about 2 years back which gave away this adorable original Smurfs cotton lunch bag with a Rodeo Crowns charm. Now, this is seriously sold out everywhere as this is from a very, very old mook :)

And when I was in Tokyo earlier this year, I picked up an adorable Smurfs pass holder from a special pop-up Smurfs corner in Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku while my friend bought some cute Smurfs towels for her three nieces and nephews. You can still find lots of Smurfs merchandise in big toy stores in Japan, unlike Singapore where Smurfs toys are hard to come by.

The latest item I've added to my list are these adorable Smurf pop-up home button stickers for iPhone / iPad given away free with New Monday magazine vol 565 from Hong Kong! I picked up a copy at Kinokuniya's Liang Court branch on Saturday and there were a few copies left then but I am not sure about the stock level now though. There are 2 different sets of buttons to collect and I chose this one over the other set which has Gargamel in it :p

I will be making a beeline to catch Smurfs when it opens in Singapore on 1 September 2011! Will you? ;)

Harrods Cooler Bag X GLOW Magazine September 2011 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:50:00 +0000

When I saw the Harrods cooler bag GWP in September's issue of GLOW ($20.20 before Kinokuniya member discount), I just had to get it even though I don't read GLOW. GLOW often gives away branded GWPs that are more well-made than those given away with other magazines which is why GLOW gets sold out faster than the others.

The cooler bag can be folded flat and stored in your bag till ready to use.

When fully opened up, the cooler bag measures 20cm x 15.5cm x 15cm.

The entire bag is fully insulated to keep your items cold. The bag can fit 4 x 500ml bottles very comfortably. This is a very useful and not to mention pretty bag to store cold items from the supermarket for the journey home. Throw in some ice packs and the items can probably store for longer without getting warm. Ice cream or chilled beer anyone? :)

Comes with double zippers to unzip the bag in a flash.

Harrods branding printed on the front of the bag.

A set of trio Laura Ashley quilted pouches will be given away with the October issue releasing in Japan on 27th August 2011.

Shorts From one after another NICE CLAUP

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Here's another item I bought in Osaka recently to share with you guys. It's summer now and shorts are all the rage over there. Racy ones, kawaii ones, sexy ones... there's bound to be a pair to suit anyone! :)

This pair is from a popular Japanese casual wear label called one after another NICE CLAUP. I have always wondered if the brand had a typo in it. What does Claup mean? Haha.

I love this pair of shorts cos it has an elastic band that can expand to fit girls up to size 12, good for fatties like me! Haha! And the USP is yet to come!

The inner lace pettipants can be removed with just a snap of a button to create another look!

You will get 2 types of pants for the price of 1, haha :) The inner pants can be worn under any pair of shorts or even under short plain dresses for the lacy hem to show.

Without the lace pettipants, the shorts now take on a more casual look. I just love how the Japanese fashion designers can come up with clothes that can be worn in different ways!

I got it from its branch at Hep Five in Umeda, Osaka. Umeda is the place to go if you want to do some serious damage to your wallet / purse as many departmental and retail stores are concentrated there. While you are in Umeda, you cannot miss going to Hep Five, especially if you're a girl! It houses some of the most popular brand stores like Earth Music & Ecology, Rosebullet, Liz Lisa, Lowry's Farm, w Closet, OLIVE des OLIVE and of course one after another NICE Claup. It is just a few minutes walk from Umeda Station and you cannot miss it cos it also boosts its own Ferris wheel and you can spot it far away! You can read more about Hep Five and its store / dining directory listing here. To learn more about one after another NICE CLAUP, click here.

Dress From OLIVE des OLIVE

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:08:00 +0000

The first thing I did when I touched down in Osaka was to make a beeline for Rinku Premium Outlets just a mere 10 minutes away from Kansai International Airport. There is a shuttle bus at the airport that leaves for the outlets every hour and each trip costs just 100JPY. Instead of lugging our luggage to the outlets, we dumped them at the coin-operated lockers at the airport which costs 400JPY per locker.

Rinku Premium Outlets features a bevy of international and Japanese homegrown brands such as Coach, Tsumori Chisato, OLIVE des OLIVE, Nice Claup, Samantha Thavasa, Gap, Kate Spade and many more offering hefty discounts on off and current season merchandise. This was the place which I spent the most money at, haha. For the full listing of the brands available at the outlets, click here.

The dress below is from OLIVE des OLIVE, a homegrown Japanese fashion label targeted at young ladies featuring mostly casual wear. I think I got this at half-price but I can't remember the actual price now.

Most merchandise from Japanese labels are "free-size" so it is best if you can try on the desired clothing before buying. I didn't try this on as I was in a hurry to catch the shuttle bus back to the airport to grab my luggage but it could fit, albeit a little short, haha.

I love the little features on the dress, such as the cute buttons on the sleeves.

The crochet collar is detachable, thus giving the dress a different look.

Without the crochet collar, the dress now looks different and can be worn under a crochet poncho or under a cardi. That's the thing I love about Japanese fashion labels. Their merchanise often allow customisation by customers to achieve different looks.

OLIVE des OLIVE is not available in Singapore but is widely available in Japan as well as on Rakuten. Here's a link to the brand's website.

Japanese Magazine Haul From Osaka!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:40:00 +0000

I've just returned from a gastronomical cum shopping holiday in Osaka and I am already missing the wonderful food and fantastic summer sales despite the unbearably hot weather there with daytime temperatures ranging between 33 deg - 35deg, omg, omg. Despite the crazy weather, July is a very good time to visit Osaka as this period is when most departmental stores and retail stores hold their summer sales with everything between 20% ~ 70% off depending on the stores you visit :) I will be posting photos of my bargain buys and curios discovered in Japan over the next few posts but for now, here's what I've bought at the newsstands and bookstores in Osaka :) These magazines are available in Singapore's Kinokuniya branches but I chose to buy these in Japan as they are cheaper over there.

Gisele Magazine August Issue with free Another Edition sensu

Lips Magazine August Issue with free Eley Kishimoto sensu and sensu holder

妇人画报 Magazine August Issue with free sensu and sensu holder

You must be thinking I have gone nuts buying magazines to get so many sensus :) Sensus are huge in Japan during summer as the weather gets really warm and humid and the Japanese like using these to cool themselves under the hot sun although it is strange no one uses those battery-operated fans that Singaporeans love to use :/ Basic sensus with no frilly patterns cost around 1,000 JPY and up in stores there and it is no wonder the Japanese are snapping up magazines that give away GWP sensus as these often come co-branded with major Japanese brands and are value for money :) And they look prettier than those store-bought ones IMO :) Looking at the sheer number of sensus I have, I can create yet another fashion statement by matching my sensus to my clothes for the day :p

Kinokuniya Haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:11:00 +0000

I have an insane number of sensu (folding fans in English) but in this crazy humid weather, I advise all girls to have a sensu in your bag to fan the heat away. My over-used Cher sensu is looking quite worn out :p

Anyways, Japanese magazines often give away sensu GWPs during the summer months and I picked up two mags on a couple of days ago with sensu GWPs :) I got a 20% discount too as Kinokuniya is currently holding a promo for Kino members till Monday, 27 June 2011.

Review 1: non-no August 2011 Issue X Coach Fan And Handkerchief

First up, I picked up the much-coveted August 2011 issue of non-no for the Coach GWPs - a Coach sensu and a Coach handkerchief ($19 before 20% discount)! The last I checked this afternoon, there were no more copies of this magazine at the Ngee Ann City branch of Kino. That's amazing, considering there were quite a lot of copies available when I picked this up on Wednesday. I am not sure about the stock levels at the other branches so if you are keen to get a copy, you might want to visit the other branches or enquire when the sea shipment for this magazine is coming in.

The sensu measures 21cm in length and 38cm when fully opened and weighs just 23g. It feels quite flimsy but not as flimsy as the Apuweiser-riche sensu that I am going to review below. It is pretty though and brand whores will love this as the Coach logo is splashed out across the entire fan :) The hanky measures 40cm x 40cm is pretty huge if you ask me. It is made of thin cotton but feels quite rough. Don't think it is very suitable for blowing noses into :p

Close-up of the Coach logo prints on the sensu.

Close-up of the hanky.

The September issue will be giving away a huge AG by Aqua Girl shopping tote to be released in Japan on 20th July 2011.

Review 2: Ray July 2011 Issue x Apuweiser-riche Fan

In comparision to the Coach sensu, this one is much smaller at 17.7cm in length and 31cm in width. The folds of the fan are made of thin polyester and so thin that the material is sheer. It is overall a very pretty fan in a sweet shade of salmon but I wished it was a little bigger. The bone of the sensu is made of bamboo and very intricately carved :) There are only a few copies of this magazine still available on the shelves at the Ngee Ann City branch.

Close-up of the sensu. The Apuweiser-riche logo is discreetly printed among the flower prints.

The August issue is already on sale and is giving away a bonica dot clear pouch.

Coast To Coast Haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:29:00 +0000

I was at Vivocity this afternoon and chanced upon Australian eco skincare brand Coast To Coast's roadshow outside Uniqlo. They were having a 1-for-1 offer on all items and I couldn't resist picking up some items.

Top row: Rainforest Clarifying Facial Cleanser ($43, 100ml), Rainforest Pore-Refining Facial Exfoliant ($43, 100ml), Rainforest Invigorating Conditioner ($37, 300ml), Rainforest Invigorating Shampoo ($37, 300ml)

Bottom row: Rainforest Purifying Fruit Fibre Facial Treatment Masks ($56 per box of 4)

What drew me to this brand is that its products are free from common synthetic ingredients, harsh mineral oils, Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS), artificial fragrances, artificial colours and animal testing. Only natural and organic ingredients that have been grown, harvested, handled, processed and stored without the use of any pesticides, synthetic chemicals, phosphates, growth stimulants or antibiotics are used.

I have oily and dehydrated skin (effects of ageing, haiz) and an oily scalp with dry ends so I chose the Rainforest Collection which has been formulated with skin rejuvenating ingredients such as Rosalina, Lilly Pilly, Alpine Pepperberry and Macademia Oil. These contain significant anti-inflammatory and potent antiseptic properties to help regulate, repair, calm and soothe the skin.

Ingredients list for the Rainforest Clarifying Facial Cleanser ~ It claims to purge pores and impurities and helps to control excess sebum. I like the gel consistency of the cleanser and it leaves my skin incredibly smooth and smells divine of eucalyptus! The smell reminds me of summer time in Australia where I spent 5 years in many moons ago :) It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight after cleansing which I have to get used to 'cos I like my skin feeling squeaky clean :p

Ingredients list for Rainforest Pore-Refining Facial Exfoliant ~ It claims to decongest blemish-prone skin and helps to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. The grains could be a little hard for some users but I like it cos my skin feels really clean and very smooth after using this. And like the cleanser, this smells divine too!

Ingredients list for Rainforest Invigorating Shampoo ~ I have yet to try this but it claims to contain Glycerin, Australian Sandalwood and Ivy extract to soothe, nourish and impart shine and softness andTea Tree, Lilly Pilly and Rosalina to provide astringent benefits to remove excess sebum and leave hair moisturized and conditioned, without over-drying. Sounds good enough for me!

Ingredients list for Rainforest Invigorating Conditioner - It contains extracts of Tea Tree, Rosalina, Lilly Pilly , Nettle and Bark to gently detangle hair, impart shine and smoothe the cuticle to improve manageability and help maintain the quality, softness and condition of the hair and scalp without weighing it down. I shall be trying this soon together with the shampoo. After futile searches for the perfect shampoo and conditioner to cleanse my scalp without drying my ends out, I hope this combo will work for me, x fingers :)

Ingredients list for Rainforest Purifying Fruit Fibre Facial Treatment Masks ~ Made from biological plant fibres, the masks have been specially formulated to combat spots and reduce oiliness. Infused with a concentrated serum of non-comogenic botanicals, such as Rosalina, Lilly Pilly and Eucalyptus, this purifying facial mask effectively replenishes lost moisture, draws out pollutants and assists in relieving skin problems. The box contains 4 masks which works out to be about $14 per piece. I will be trying this soon as I have a mountain of facial masks yet to be used, hahaha :p

For today's haul, I recieved a $10 voucher and a membership card for 10% discount off regular-priced items on top of the 1-for-1 promo. The roadshow ends today but the 1-for-1 promo is ongoing in its Vivocity store till 30 June 2011 so it's a pretty good time to stock up :) The store is located at #01-08, near where the Crabtree & Evelyn store is located.

For more information on the brand's products, do visit its website here.

Marc By Marc Jacobs X Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Ireland™ Campaign 2011 Tote

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:24:00 +0000

I have previously blogged about Marc by Marc Jacobs' collaboration with the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Ireland™ Campaign 2011 to produce a global exclusive tote to raise funds for Action Breast Cancer (a programme of the Irish Cancer Society) and Europa Donna Ireland (raising awareness of breast cancer issues in Ireland). You can refer to my entry here.

I purchased one from the Irish Cancer Society's website about a week and a half back and my order arrived a couple of days ago from Ireland which was pretty quick I reckon for a flat shipping fee of €2 to Singapore.

Marc by Marc Jacobs' signature character, Miss Marc, is seen here as a fiesty and tough girl complete with boxing gloves and a tank top that says "Fight Like A Girl", a strong message to all women to beat breast cancer.

The tote is made of 100% polyester and is a little larger than the usual Miss Marc totes. You can see a comparision of the sizes between this tote and another Miss Marc tote I have. The tote retails for just €35 and is for charity so you can't really expect the same kind of quality you'll shell out a couple of hundred bucks for regular Miss Marc totes. It'll, however, make a great fashion statement as it is not available for sale locally.

The tote is still available on Irish Cancer Society's website if you are keen to purchase one.

Tsumineko Lover's Book

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:16:00 +0000

I haven't been purchasing many Japanese mooks and magazines recently as the GWPs haven't been very enticing but I did pick up a copy of Tsumineko Lover's Book from Kinokuniya ($31 before 10% Kino member discount) as the tote and charm GWPs are so cute!! :)

After a quick search on Google, I now know Tsumineko is a very popular iPhone game in Japan. It involves stacking cats of various sizes on top of each other to make the tallest possible tower of cats and the player has to control the wobbly tower of mews by tilting the phone before they all tumble down. How cute!!!

You can download the game which is called MewMew Tower from iTunes for US$0.99 or try the lite version for free :)

The mook comes with a small tote and 2 adorable Tsumineko charms! The tote measures 23cm x 32cm x 6.5cm and is made of processed polyester and PVC. The tote is too small for A4 items but it makes a cute weekend bag :)

Here's a close-up of the cute kitty prints, similiar to the ones in the game.

Here's the interior of the bag - no zips and inner pockets.

In real life, these 2 cats are so cute as charms!!

The small one has a X at its bottom! Haha!!

And the fat one has cute pink paw prints! :)

And yes, these 2 are stackable too although I don't think the small one can withstand the fat one's weight :p

Sephora Malaysia Sightings ~ Baviphat

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:55:00 +0000

I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia a couple of weeks back and decided to pay a visit to the newly opened Sephora in Malaysia located at Bintang Walk outside Starhill Gallery to check out what brands the Malaysian counterpart stocked. I was hoping they had philosophy but rats, they didn't. Anywhos, like Sephora Singapore, the Malaysia store stocked the usual suspects like Estee Lauder, Clinique,Too Faced, Urban Decay, Benefit, blah blah. And then I spotted Korean cosmetics brand Baviphat. Gee, Sephora Singapore doesn't stock this brand, do they?

I was in a rush that day as I had to meet my friends for lunch over at Lot 10 down the road so I only managed to pick up these Baviphat cuties in a hurry.

Left: Apple Soft Lip Balm, 6g, RM19.90; Right: Apple Jelly Lip Scrub, 6g, RM 19.90

I was sold the instance I unscrewed the apple cap of the lip balm in the store. I love the delicious, fresh crisp apple scent in this balm! I can eat this! Haha! Although the colour of the balm looks quite pigmented, it actually only leaves just a tinge of colour on your naked lips for a natural look. The balm is a little sticky and it gets a little messy when applying it to the lips as you have to use your fingers to dip into the pot but who cares about inconvenience when the packaging is so cute? :)

Here's the list of ingredients. I can't read Korean to save my life but I did a quick search on Google for the translation:
- It is ideal for those who has dry lips and dead skin cell on lips.
- The fresh scent of Apple.
- It contains Vitamin A, C, E derivatives and Apple extract embrace your skin with exceptional moisturizing and glistening sensation.
- Vitamin A, C, E derivative & Shea Butter : Water and nutrient supply; Apple extract : Supply nutrition and resilience

Like the balm, the lip scrub smells really yummy of apples! The exfoliating grains are quite large IMO and if you have really dry and flaky lips, you might want to rub the grains against your lips really gently. I don't have particularly dry lips but my lips felt really clean and smooth after using the scrub :) And I love the subtle lingering apple scent on my lips afterwards. Winner!

And trusty Google said of the ingredients list:
- It is ideal for those who has dry lips and dead skin cell on lips.
- Feel like a fresh and smooth baby lips, is good for a neat and bright lip makeup.
- Contains Brown sugar, Brown rice and Apple extract smoothly remove dead skin cell on lips and give moisture and nutrition.
- Brown sugar : Lips exfoliating; Brown rice, Walnut shell, Oats : Nutrition supply

Does anyone know if Baviphat is sold anywhere in Singapore? I foresee the need to restock the apple scrub very soon! :)

Marc By Marc Jacobs X Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Ireland™ Campaign 2011 World Exclusive Limited Edition Tote

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:48:00 +0000

Luxury Irish department store Brown Thomas is delighted to announce that this year it has teamed up with celebrated New York Designer Marc Jacobs to create a ‘global exclusive’ for the 7th annual Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Ireland™ Campaign.

For this campaign, Brown Thomas approached celebrated designer Marc Jacobs to design a bag which would appeal to women of all ages in the fight against breast cancer. The resulting limited edition packable tote bag, which incorporates the distinctive FTBC bull’s eye target logo, is the ultimate tote bag of the summer.

This world exclusive tote features the designer's signature character, Miss Marc, wearing a “Fight Like a Girl” tank and red boxing gloves. Don’t let Miss Marc’s big grin fool you, she is feisty and tough – and most importantly, she’s a survivor. Her power: all of the proceeds from the sale of these special designer totes, which will retail for €35, will go to Action Breast Cancer (a programme of the Irish Cancer Society) and Europa Donna Ireland (raising awareness of breast cancer issues in Ireland).

Get it online at Irish Cancer Society's website here. They ship internationally and shipping to Singapore only costs €2. Now that's a cause worth fighting for! :)

Chocolate Rain Haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Wileen) — Sun, 22 May 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Hong Kong homegrown brand Chocolate Rain has finally arrived on our shores! I visited the store at Square 2 and couldn't resist picking up a couple of items, including yet another iPhone cover =p

Besides the iPhone cover, I picked up a packet of handmade hair accessories as well =)

Unlike many major brands which have completely phased out production for iPhone 3GS covers, Chocolate Rain has released even more new cover designs for 3GS =) There are plenty of designs available for both the 3GS and 4 models in the store. I picked this cheery one.

The cover includes a protective screen film and a cute cleaning cloth. Customers can also download free Chocolate Rain wallpapers from its website with a redemption code provided within the packaging.

The friendly sales assistant explained to me that no two hair accessories in the store are alike as they are all handmade. I picked this cute sleepy one.

There are 2 sets of hair accessories within each pack. The Fatina doll is made of felt and is very well-sewn. The lace trimming on her skirt hem is so cute! Stripes somehow work with floral prints on her, haha.

A piece of scrap cloth is also included with the pack, along with suggestions on DIY-ing your own personalised items.

If you are interested in Chocolate Rain and its products, visit its Facebook Page to learn more.

Chocolate Rain is located at Square 2 Shopping Mall, #01-41.