The Opera Populaire

(source: Garance Dore)

And so I walked out of the Ferragamo pre-sale empty-handed. It seems that everytime you plan your purchases, get yourself all psyched up over it and then finally go, something inevitably happens to make you not part with the money. Actually, I did part with my money, but not on SF. Let me tell you the story bit by bit.

I arrived at Paragon SF, waited for Hubs to come and then went in, proudly flashing the Citibank mailer, smiling somewhat smugly at the "Preview Sale: By Invitation Only" sign outside the glass door. I braced myself hard not to get sidelined by the small leather goods section and went straight to the shoes section. Asked for black calfskin Vara in size 6 and a half D. Nice salesgirl told me the black is not on sale, but I could try it on, if I proceed upstairs (aka the level where shoppers should not step on unless they have enough moolah to throw on non-sale items and croc-skin bags). Only khaki and navy Vara were on sale. Bummer. Nehmind. I decided to check them out for a bit.

If you have imposed a shopping ban on yourself, the last thing you should do is to check out sales. And I had an agonising time deciding if I want a denim or a crackled Varina instead of the original black. We went to the forbidden 2nd floor and I asked another salesgirl to bring me a black calfskin Vara and patent Varina in the above size. She somehow managed to think I asked for a black patent Vara in size 7 D, even though she asked me twice. Sigh. When I asked her nicely for calfskin, she said they ran out of it?? Damn. I knew I just saw it at the very same branch the past weekend. Asked me for my contact so that they could inform me when they have stock.

So we went back downstairs. Asked for my size in both the denim and crackled skin, in bronze. No more, sorry. I swear I heard the salesman said there was one, just before we went upstairs. See where a few minutes of pondering leave you during sales?? Dejected, we decided to try ION.

I thought I struck gold when I saw a chocolate brown Vara on sale. Sadly, my size was no longer available. I managed to try on the demin Varina, but finally I decided that they were not too comfy and the workmanship was bad (the one at Paragon had bits of glue all over the beads and this one had an uncut bit of plastic sticking out of the denim which threatened to cut my right foot). No more size in copper crackled as well, although I tried on the silver crackled one. Comfy (check), size (check). But why the hesitation? I had worn silver shoes before, to their deaths as well. So why not this? But something in the silver did not quite say "okay" in the same way the copper did, so I hesitantly put it away and led Hubs away to Tangs, where we blew about the same amount on a microwave convection oven and other stuff. It may be some time yet before I get that dream pumps, but I guess since it's the classic collection, it will be available for some time yet.

It is impossible to wear outer wear, much less jackets in this sweltering weather, but doesn't this one from Isabel Marant looks divine?

Labels: Rambles, Saya Affairs

Another one in the squad gone to the altar! I was so touched by the love shown by friends and families shown during Jing's wedding on Sun. Although programmes and everything else was not exactly perfect...a few times the audio failed to play to cue and the emcees had to stall for time...I think it was amazing how the couple cared less about perfection in schedule than catering for the people they cared about during the dinner. They had the longest thank you speech I had ever encountered in a wedding dinner, thanking almost everyone they knew. And I love the fact that people love them so much as to prepare surprises for them; a mutual fren who could not make it to the dinner made a video to be screened during the dinner. Wish DH and my wedding had been that touching! But we r both task-based robots *LOL* I suspect our photographer did not find us good subjects haha. But never mind...I always think what's impt about weddings is that they r over! And the marriage can finally begin.

Anyhow, I feel very satisfied with some of my fashion "investments", some of which I wore for the wedding. The one which got the most compliment: my wedding shoes!! Not many people could see my wedding shoes as my gown had covered them. But the heels are the prettiest part...as you can see from the picts, they are sewn with bling-blings (I don't know what they are called!). They are too "bride-y" so I had them dyed black after the wedding. The sweet lady from Bagspa even rushed it for me, so it came in time for Jing's wedding. I think it's a terrific idea and I can see myself wearing it for many a future events...it's so hot and easily matched!

I'm thinking of exchanging/ coloring every accesory that I seldom wear to black; just wondering if it will encourage me to wear them more often. I hate stuff cluttering up my space and love the idea of buying things to use than keep for special occasions these days. Feeling the success of my wedding shoes and black reissue, I'm thinking of extending it to my other stuff as well. Like this pair of uber comfy Lea Foscatti shoes I'm wearing now. Easily the most comfy shoes I have, but I don't wear it as often I would have loved to because it is red in color. I think red is the color that suits me least. Some well-meaning relatives had told me to wear more colors, but I'm really a neutral-color person. Red, pinks and some bright shades like orange makes me look totally off. Anyway, isn't it like those Parisian women to stick to only fail-safe colors? LOL.

Labels: Random

Is it a little late to start a new year resolution? Hehe.

I did not begin 2011 with a clearly formulated resolution as I did last year. If you ask me, I am not sure of the exact reason as well. Maybe it's inertia, or that sense of helplessness when you had been trapped in a certain circumstance beyond your control for longer than you like. Or maybe it was because it is difficult to top the good resolutions I made last year! Hohoho. Anyhow, the result is to lead the first half of 2011 in an aimless manner.

But I think this needs to change. Because, whenever I made a certain decision, there was always a direction that I could stick to. And I'm usually pretty good at sticking to decisions. So I have decided that something has gotta be done to shake me out of this lethargic state of being. And the first step is probably setting down some ground rules in the form of resolution.

Enough. Here goes:

1) To change my bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle. More fruits, vegetable and exercise twice a week at least. Less processed and "bad" food.

2) In terms of shopping, quality rules over quantity. Only buy what looks perfect, as if tailored to fit my physique and personality. If possible, stick to shopping list, unless certain unexpected buy is too perfect to resist.

3) Read more.

4) Be more generous. To loved ones, charity, etc.

I think that should be enough for now ;)

Labels: Saya Affairs

This GE is very exciting. As other people have noted, never had there been such a ground-level engagement with politics. I had always been terribly apathetic when it comes to politics, but these days, the first thing I check out every morning is news about the GE, videos of what those jokers (ooops, politicians) say about the state of being of our country, etc etc. And I'm amazed at what these so-called guardians of the state can come up with...mud-slingings, with their defence mode high up. Says a lot about the standards of some people without their speech-writers. Gosh. Unfortunately, I had been denied the right to vote...which can be good or bad depending on which angle you see it.

Anyhow, being still a deep believer in NOT putting everything I think online, let's keep my thoughts on the GE off the cyberspace and move on. Well, that came a bit literally. My jailterm is almost ending. Time to think about the next step. Hence comes the difficult question. Sigh. Sorry, all of a sudden I don't feel like elaborating, except to say that I have been having strange dreams for the past 2 nights. Dreams that are, if you see them objectively, not sad. But I felt emotionally down in the course of its running. Perhaps they are feelings that my conscious self have been attempting to suppress. It is true that my being for the past 2 years or so can be seen by others as "normal", even enviable at times. Who will not feel happy to be granted a scholarship to pursue higher education, got a house at an enviable location and settled down with a great life partner? But things are really not what it seems. Deep down, I know that my Maker knows why I am unhappy and had long ago "settled" it for me. For that, I am holding on and trying to keep positive.

Labels: Saya Affairs, Se-lat-por Affairs