The Material Boy #151

Gucci Mens Fall Winter 2008/2009 Leather Jackets

Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most luxurious luxury brand of all? Hermes? Louis Vuitton? Gucci?

Oh yes, Gucci seems to want to place itself at the top tier of luxury brands by charging exorbitant prices for their wares these days. I do lust after these gorgeous leather jackets as featured on the fall winter 2008/2009 mens collection. Lots of decadent detailing, like brass studs, buckles and fur fur fur! It's like an armor or trophy to signify your triumph over amassing your huge amount of resources and it's time to flaunt the newfound wealth proudly!

But would you pay over SGD $10,000 for a Gucci leather jacket? And it's not even exotic skin. That is something to be left pondering by us common folks, but I guess if you earn millions a month, what does that amount mean to you. Spare change?:-P

I love the jackets, the fur collared one is TDF, but if I am paying that kind of money, I go for Hermes or LV...since there's a guarantee you will not find them in the bargain bin six months down the line.:-P

Gosh, I need more money to get all these frivolous wants! On a last thought, even if I have the money to acquire these leather jackets, I will die of heatstroke in Singapore by wearing them:-P

Retail price:
1) Studded Zip Leather Jacket - ¥933450
2) Double Breasted Fur Collared Leather Jacket - ¥763350
Where to buy: Gucci Boutiques

Source: Pics from www.openers.jp

Ad Campaigns & Catalogues #16

Paul And Joe Mens Fall Winter 2008/2009

I love the easy styles of Paul And Joe. Although the brand sometimes tends to have hits and miss in their collections, I still fancy some items they have each season. This season Paul and Joe turns to the alps and winter resorts for inspiration. Sporty styles, formal styles, you name it, you got it. Of course, adding a touch of Paul and Joe's fun along the way.

The ad campaign features an outdoor setting, high up in the mountains. It does carry thru the collection's theme, but I feel more could have been done to make the shots more dynamic and eye catching. The styling is also not doing justice to the nice designs she had in the showroom presentation.

However, when I look at the lookbook styles, there are some really nice pieces on offer. For this season, I am especially attracted to the 3rd look from the 1st lookbook pic. The white shirt with plaid detailing on the shoulders is cool. When pair with boots and slim pants, it's interesting and very on trend! I also like some of the ski style jackets, the one in grey with a fur lined hood is gorgeous! Bags are not exactly exciting, with one of them being a Burberry lookalike.

It's a pity the brand did not do very well at Club 21 Mens. They seem not to be able to sell last season's items off even during sale. Quite a few things are left even when it is at 60%. 10% more discount than other brands. The SA said it is a pity all those left on the racks will just go to the Bazaar sale. This is the 2nd time the brand failed in Singapore. First time being the boutique as operated by CK Tangs group at Wisma Atria.

If I ever drop by an area with Paul and Joe, I will still check it out. I love the brand in its own strange way. French and fun.:-)

Source: Pics from www.paulandjoe.com

My Big Birthday Is Coming...

Here It Comes, All It Takes Is A Plane Ride...

Yes...it's arriving tonight...2 months in advance for my BIG Birthday...Yipppeeeeee!

My Shopping Conquest #22

Marc By Marc Jacobs Grey Plaid Wool Tailored Jacket
(Reveal from 'What A Rainy Day Of Shopping!')

I am going 'MARC' crazy!

Here you go, finally had time to snap some pics of what's lurking inside my Marc By Marc Jacobs shopping bag from last Saturday! Presenting the cute, the suave, the gorgeous Marc By Marc Jacobs Grey Plaid Wool Tailored Jacket! Look who's been wearing this down the Marc By Marc Jacobs Fall Winter 2008/2009 runway show...it's none other than the quirky, strange, gender bending, very hot model of the moment, Cole Mohr! He did MJ by MJ's ad campaign this season featuring his memorable crossing dressing looks.

Enough of Cole, back to my plaid jacket, this cropped style jacket looks gorgeous for this 'plaid' crazy season. And in a grey hue 'tartan' plaid, it will stand the test of seasonal trend and have more longevity than the 6 month period of this fall winter season. I love the short style of the jacket. As you all will have known, I find cropped tailored jackets much more easy to pull off without looking too formal. Perfect to take it out anyday. The cut of the jacket is not the very slim fitted type. It's more boxy, which is the silhouette on trend this season as well. Just look at Lanvin! In addition, the wool material of this jacket will come in handy when I travel in the fall season again. Just play with lots of layering with a splash of loud colour like Cole Mohr did!

This jacket comes in limited quantities. One piece for each size. And only stocked by the Marc By Marc Jacobs Boutique in Ngee Ann City. I have gotten the small, so 2 sizes left on the racks. What's great about the jacket is also the price. I thought it was good value for a tailored jacket by a mid range luxury brand like MJ by MJ, especially after my 15% discount.

3 bags down:-P, and one more Blackjack bag to reveal from last Saturday's shopping spree!

(Oh one more thing, I got approach by someone from Create Talents again to ask me if I want to model for some of their projects while walking down Orchard Road yesterday. Oh my. Second time I got 'talent spotted'. I am shallow. It does makes me happy. Hahaha!)

Retail price: SGD $799. Where to buy: Marc By Marc Jacobs Boutique at Ngee Ann City

Source: Model pic from www.marcjacobs.com

My Shopping Conquest #21

Tsumori Chisato Patchwork Blue Stripe L/S Shirt
(Reveal from 'Blackjack My Way Home')

Reach for the stars and fulfill your dreams! Yes, this is the immediate thought I had when I first lay eyes upon this beautiful shirt by Tsumori Chisato. I first caught sight of this shirt while shopping in Blackjack 2 Saturdays ago. The impression was strong and it just did not managed to get out of my mind. Been thinking about how cute and interesting it is after seeing it. Although I did not try on the shirt, I just fell in love with the patchwork details. I knew I had to buy it. Look at how cute the design is...it shows a hand reaching for a star. Alternating stripe fabric arrangement forms the hand, so you can see the 'hand' is sewn up with many pieces of smaller fabrics. The fabric is also very cute, it's fine light blue stripe but lots of white spots all over the fabric that reminds me of snowflake. I love it! There is also a silver embroidered Tsumor Chisato motif which adds a spot of contrast to the colour.

This Tsumori Chisato Patchwork Blue Stripe L/S Shirt is of a boxy cut. Kinda 'balloony' in silhouette. I had it taken in at the sides to make the shirt slimmer. I also got a size bigger than the smallest size as it was sold out or they did not bring in the small size. But I tried the small size for a short sleeve version and the cut was not much of a difference, especially when I can get it altered. Some other interesting detailing include a gathered pin tucked design on the back area and a a little patchwork where the sides of the shirt end. I like small little detailing like that. Lastly, the shirt is made in Japan. Not China:-P

So after a week of waiting, this shirt is finally coming home with me. Gonna wear it today. If you see a hand reaching out for the stars or for that matter, my wallet for more shopping...you'd know it's me! hahaha.*wink* Acting 'CUTE' today lah!

Retail price: SGD $389. Where to buy: Blackjack Boutique at Forum, The Shopping Mall

Blackjack My Way Home...

Blackjack! I Win...You Are Coming Home With Me:-P

Finally my Blackjack store (By Fashion Conglomerate, Club 21), Tsumori Chisato purchase is home with me!:-P

More Tsumori Chisato items have arrived in Blackjack. There's a pair of shoes that's looking exceptionally gorgeous and funky. Plus the price is reasonable as well at just SGD $259. It's beige suede and patent leather. Nice! But that's another shopping story for another day.

Pics of what's inside the bag to come soon:-)

P.S. I need to sell my LV bag and other bags as well! My Big Birthday present to myself is coming soon!...Oh my! Make way, my lesser bags!

My MANy Bags To Sell #03 (SOLD)

Time To Say Goodbye, Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Broadway Bag

With the coming of the new, the old has to give way...

It's time to part with my Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Broadway Bag. May it find its rightful owner who will treasure this bag.

This bag has only been used once and is in a great condition, always kept in the dust bag. What makes this Broadway bag different from the new ones you see in the store...is the RED COLOUR lining instead of brown. And the strap is not embroided with the words Louis Vuitton. In my books, this version is so much more classy and less loud.

Will post prices soon. Anyone who is interested, make me an offer before I officially put it up for sale:-P This bag is now retailing for around SGD $1700 in the LV stores. Singapore buyers preferred.

Click here for my previous post on this bag

Ad Campaigns & Catalogues #15

Etro Menswear Fall Winter 2008/2009

I love this series of ads from Etro! It's got a somewhat 'Alice In Wonderland' surrealism infused into the theme. Check out the oversized vegetables in the background (I see broccoli, eggplant and more!) Very interesting. The colours are rich as well which makes it truly eye catching and likable. The full moon evokes a certain mystery to the overall mood of the settings. This perfectly personifies the quirky styles of Etro.

I got these scans from The Fashionisto's blog. Do check out his blog. He has got very interesting labels being featured. :-P

A Shopping Dilemma #04

Zara Checkered Track Style Jacket

Today after work, I was out in the Orchard Road again for dinner and also to Kinokuniya to pick up some magazines. I got the latest Style and Popeye magazine. Of course, no trip to Orchard Road will be complete with a little window shopping. I do not dare step into any branded stores for fear of my 'wandering eyes' and 'weak will' to succumb to another retail temptation again. So I went to Zara and CK Calvin Klein. The latter is still not a good idea since it is not too cheap. Fortunately, nothing much in CK interests me or got me sleepless. But for Zara, I spotted this nice corduroy track style jacket which I really like. With a checkered design and elastic ribbed collar and cuffs, it is soft and very fitted. The black colour looks amazing and the checkered print is so on trend this season. I could see myself wear this anyday! So easy to match and keep warm especially on these recent rainy weather. Now I am contemplating to buy or not buy. One comforting thought, at least this is not going to break an arm or leg for my wallet. At SGD $89.90, it goes to show nice things dun always have to be branded and overpriced:-P

(Oh, I also tried on a white tuxedo shirt with a bow-tie (SGD $19.90). I look silly..so I pass it up. I love the bow-tie. Someone will make good use of that. Not me. The price is also very reasonable for a not so frequently used fashion item.)

Today I am wearing Pull And Bear T-shirt, Agnés B Dogtag necklace, Dolce Gabbana belt, snakeskin ID bracelet and jeans with White Converse Shoes and carrying my Miu Miu canvas bag.

Ad Campaigns & Catalogues #14

The City Of Lights
Openers Mode: Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite

I came across this beautifully shot editorial from a Japanese fashion web magazine that has loads of info on many luxury brands, www.openers.jp, despite me not understanding anything. Yahoo Babelfish to the rescue!

Featuring the much talk about Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite range of bags, the editorial done in a soft focus style, with well coordinated mood lighting conveys the mood of a handsome dashing man in different situations using these masculine bags. The strange thing about fashion editorials, they somehow draws you into the mood...and although I do not like the bags in real person, I am strangely drawn to them when seen in these pictures, espeically the tall biker boots! Perhaps, they want you to see yourself as the dashing male model with his gorgeous luggages leading a rich, glamorous and carefree jet set lifestyle. (Is there something like that exisiting in the world?) The guy in the hotel room with tonnes of the bags best represents that:-)

Which bag do you now like and see yourself in the picture with?:-P

When it comes to luxury fashion, Japanese do it best:-)

Source: www.openers.jp

My MANy Bags News #22

Numéro Tokyo October Issue And The Ultimate Giveaway!

Just imagine when a cool magazine like Numéro Tokyo October Issue comes with a designer piece of giveaway....will that spark off a buying frenzy? Oh my..I think it will, at least for me. I am so going to beat all my 'competitors', 'shove' and 'push' and 'step' on anyone just to get my hands on this! Hahaha. Where are my claws? Yes, I want want want that Louis Vuitton Monogramouflage Mousepad! I want! I want! It feels good to have cheap and good thrills!

Thanks to Joseph and Sean for the heads up!

This LV mousepad will be the first in a series of giveaways from different designer brands with the October, November and December Numero issues. Each month comes with a new cool freebie.

Oh, on a last note, the ultra cool and beautiful face for the cover is no other than my most favourite Coco Rocha! She has such a strong look and I love her for her Balenciaga Spring Summer 2007 and Dolce Gabbana Fall Winter 2007 campaigns. But I dunno what on earth is she doing when she accepted the job of being the face of super cheapo G2000. It's so yuck, the way they portrayed her. Such a damaging move to her image and career. I hope she picks up again soon! Here's a preview of her feature editorial, wow! I like it!

Ad Campaigns & Catalogues #13

Kris Van Assche Menswear Fall Winter 2008/2009

This is probably one of my most favourite ad campaigns for fall winter 2008/2009 now! I can't believe it, that Kris had the bold and innovative mind to do a campaign like that for his collection. I am duly impressed. Based on his runway show which features vintage washing machines, this campaign takes on cues from that presentation and was shot in L.A, in a laundromat. But if you look closely, there are underlying homoerotic theme and lots of suggestive imagery (Oh yeah, wet undershirts, suds and hot bods!). Kinda like soft porn done in an artistic way! Much much tasteful than Tom Ford's campaign which is more blatant. I love it! The scenes were entirely depicted thru the reflections from the washing machines. Very clever. It's there and yet not there! I am seriously going to pay lots of attention to his collection this season because of this 'effective' advertising!:-P

(Thanks to Paolo for posting about this! He has the most amazing content in his blog.)

Here is what Kris Van Assche's website says about the campaign:

Kris Van Assche And Jeff Burton Collaborate On A Visual Project

Designer Kris Van Assche and photographer Jeff Burton collaborated on a series of 12 layouts which will run in 12 select, international magazines as a unique advertising campaign for Van Assche’s FW 08.09 men’s collection. Photographed in Los Angeles in March 2008 in a Laundromat, the series started as an artistic collaboration for A Magazine. A Magazine is a bi-annual Antwerp-based magazine. Each issue is edited by a guest curator who freely develops the content of the issue. Van Assche is the curator of issue No 7 (on newsstands in May 08). Previous curators include Yohji Yamamoto, Martin Margiela, Martine Sitbon, Haider Ackermann. The location for the shoot, a Laundromat, was chosen based on the set design of Van Assche’s FW 08.09 runway show, for which vintage washing machines were placed alongside the catwalk. Typical for Burton’s work, the casting consists of real people and porn actors. His photographs capture the idea of seduction and sensuality, without any crudeness. Kris Van Assche, a longtime admirer of Burton, especially appreciates the poetry Jeff Burton pulls from the world of pornography : a place where it is hard to find. Beginning with September issues, 12 layouts will run in 12 select international magazines. Each layout will thus be exclusive to the magazine. The full series can be seen on www.krisvanassche.com.

"I did not want to present a classic campaign", says Van Assche. "I wanted people to feel the excitement of this encounter between two creative people who truly appreciate and admire each other’s work. 12 different lay outs in only 12 magazines worldwide is a radically new way of looking at advertising. It is more of an artistic event".

Source: www.krisvanassche.com

My Shopping Conquest #20

Marc By Marc Jacobs Diamonté 'Marc' Brooch
(Reveal from 'Shopping Sunday Continues...')

A lot of guys do not like accessories or jewellery. However, I am a firm believer in adding small touches to enhance my outfit. And accessories or jewellery does the trick! They add a new dimension and sometimes glamour and sparkle to an otherwise plain ensemble. Be it something masculine, something flashy, something slightly feminine...I think if done right, anything looks great on you, regardless of gender.

Hence, after acquiring my Lanvin Grasshopper Head Jacket Pin from Club 21 mens last Saturday, I head down to Marc By Marc Jacobs for a second round of shopping (Which I got a bigger item on Sat's visit but I will reveal that on another post:-P). However, during this trip to Marc By Marc Jacobs store on Saturday, something else caught my eye. It 'inspires' me with ideas on how it could make my jackets look even more eye catching and interesting:-) Perfect for a grand event like attending a fashion show or a party. I knew I could not resist not owning it.

So here it is, I went back to buy this on the following day, Sunday....presenting the ultra 'bling' Marc By Marc Jacobs Diamonté 'Marc' Brooch in light gold! With a script-like font design, it feels like wearing Marc's handwritten signature:-) Very cool. Not really a logo and yet it says Marc Jacobs. Okay, I am a 'showoff' sometimes.

Ingenious little touches such as the drooping chain and metal gold ball (engraved with the brand logotype all around) that are attached to 'Marc' word makes this brooch even more gorgeous! I attached it on my new Zara jacket and the brooch just adds glamour when pinned onto the lapels! I am so in love with this now. Because the size of the brooch is not too big, it has just the right amount of visibility without making you look like some 'can-can' dancer.

And lastly, before I forget to mention, this is meant for the fairer gender:-P I feel a bit shy buying this at first and told the SA I wanted to give this as a present. Yeah, half of that is true, I did mean this to be a gift, but to myself:-) Dun we love to give presents to reward ourselves?:-P

(Next up soon...reveal from my Blackjack shopping bag (Blackjack is a multi-label store by Club 21 stocking cult labels like McQ, Helmut Lang, Martin Margiela, Y3, Raf By Raf Simons etc.) and of course not forgetting the big Marc Jacobs bag!:-P)

Source: Close-up product pics from www.shopbop.com

Retail price: SGD $139. Where to buy: Marc By Marc Jacobs Boutique at Ngee Ann City