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