Meet Eva

Hello everyone!

I have recently acquired a new friend i'd like you to meet.

Can anyone guess? :)

MEET EVA.

As in Louis Vuitton's Eva clutch from their monogram canvas line.

Asides from the speedy 30 i received from my parents as a gift a few years ago, this is the only other piece of Louis Vuitton/high-end luxury purse i have. As a student with tuition and bills to pay, i can't justify spending thousands of dollars on a purse regularly.

I've always loved the Eva design. It's SO versatile and chic. Although compact (as it IS a clutch), it can still fit quite a bit (definitely a thin wallet, phone, keys, lipstick etc.) and i LOVE the fact that it comes with both a gold chain to wear on the shoulder AND a detachable vachetta leather strap to be worn crossbody. I LOVE wearing my bags messenger-style because it keeps my hands free :).

I got it in the classic monogram design, which i hesitated at first due to its...well, fame. (the LV monogram design is one of the most widely recognizable logos worldwide) However, i ultimately went with the monogram because a) it's classic b) i like the smaller gold nameplate on the front more than the large inventeur plaque on the damier design and c) the Eva is still small enough to be quietly chic, even with the famous LV print.

At first i was a bit worried about the length of the longer leather strap because i have read online about how it's too long for petite women. I'm just under 5'4 so i'm not exactly the tallest gal around and the strap is non-adjustable. However, to my surprise, the strap wasn't as long as i had thought it would be. And i don't like my crossbody bags to sit TOO high on my hip either.

Anyway, i'm VERY happy with my Eva and can see myself wearing her a lot in the upcoming summer months. :)

Happy weekend, everyone!

xo,
M.

A Pair of Blochs

Hello!

I'm finally done exams! (which explained my little hiatus) However, summer courses are starting soon so my break is short-lived. If i could choose, i would choose to be busy over being idle. I hate that restless, useless feeling!

Anyway, here's a quick post on a pair of new flats i purchased quite awhile ago.

Bloch Fonteyn Flats in Nude

Isn't the box beautiful? The flats come in a dainty ballet slipper bag.

Bloch Fonteyn Ballet Flat

These are from the famed brand BLOCH, which specializes in ballet wear and actual ballet flats (worn by ballerinas). However, they've recently expanded to creating street footwear as well, putting to use their expertise in creating comfortable, quality flats.

I got the FONTEYN style, which is a simple leather flat with a rounded toe and elastic bow tie on the front. I love how sumptuously soft the leather is! Absolutely delightful! And the footbed is cushioned and thicker than my Juicy ones, which make these a lot more comfy.

The flats are light but made of quality leather and workmanship. Although pricey, i think Bloch is a brand worth investing in. Plus, i know with summer just around the corner, flats will become my everyday shoe! :)

xo,
M.

Raisin Bag

Hello!

I mentioned in a previous post that i picked up a new PURPLE bag.

Well, here she is!

It's the Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Baby Groovee!

Marc By Marc Jacobs Baby Groovee

Isn't the colour just gorgeous? It's a lovely, rich raisin hue, which compliments the gold hardware perfectly! <3

I love bags with a longer strap b/c i love wearing bags crossbody!

I LOVE how despite its size, it can still carry A LOT AND, like most MBMJ bags, comes with two options of carrying: a long shoulder strap (that can be worn cross-body) and shorter handheld handles.

Beautiful gold hardware with MBMJ stamps

Very roomy!

Has "feet" so no worries about setting the bag on the floor!

Overall, i'm VERY pleased with the bag. The leather, true to MBMJ quality, is soft and luxurious. I've been on a bit of a purple kick lately (R&R jeans and now this!). I actually bought another bag (will be revealed in a later post!) yesterday that's also KIND OF purple (more lavender). Stay toon!

xo,

M.

Bright and Blazin'

Hello everyone,

One of the hottest trends for Spring & Summer 2012 are BRIGHT BLAZERS.

credit: allthingschic

Blazers are one of the staple pieces that should be in every fashionista's closet...but colourful, bright, neon colours?

I was hesitant at first too but ever since seeing photos of the hot pink Zara blazer, i fell in love.

Lots of brands are coming out with their own versions of the bright & colourful blazers, everyone from H&M to J. Crew.

Zara's Hot Pink Blazer
from luuux.com

I wanted the Zara one but it was sold out in stores so i found a similar version on Ebay! (of all places...lol)

Hot pink Zara-esque blazer from Ebay!

The quality isn't amazing but it's not bad either. Light, soft material that's great for spring & summer! Plus the colour - HOT PINK! How can i resist? :)

The trick, i find, is to pair the blazer with neutral or dark-colour bottoms so you don't have TOO much going on and look like a hot mess. However, if you're more comfortable with colours you can try colour-blocking (another BIG trend for 2012!). 

Only for the advanced: colour blocking a la Jessica Alba
from glamour.com

I've also purchased one in a bright royal blue. I have yet to receive it. Photos will be added once i get it!

Have you guys joined the bright blazer bandwagon yet? =)

xo,

M.

JEAN-etics

Hello!

I've decided recently i needed to buy new JEANS. Denim is probably the one thing i can justify spending a lot of money on just because of how LONG i keep my jeans and how MUCH i put them through. I wear jeans probably 4-5 days out of a week. They're my WORKHORSE staples and certainly deserve the investment.

In high school i loved Garage jeans just because they were 1) relatively cheap (they were like 30 bucks) and 2) they were stretchy. However, as with cheaper denims, the material does wear out over time (although still worth their lower price tags). In general, a pair of jeans stay in my closet for AT LEAST 2 years. Yup. I find shopping for bottoms tedious (VERY tricky to order online without trying) and because i'm petite (just under 5'4), more often than not i will have to get my jeans hemmed - which is annoying.

Domino, Rock & Republic, Joe's Jeans

Recently picked up 3 pairs of higher-end denim as i realized all the jeans in my closet were ill-fitted (i've recently lost some weight) and at least 2 years old. Time for some new blood!

Overall, i'm VERY happy with them and surprisingly i ordered all three pairs ONLINE!!! Yes, as tricky as it is to purchase bottoms, sometimes it is worth the risk because you can find some very good deals online (especially for premium denim!).

Domino Kochi Jeans

1) Domino Kochi Jeans in Raw
These are your basic, dark-wash denim. Slight stretch. Flattering wash that's dark enough for the evening. Made in Canada, good material. I DID have to hem these though (the inseam was 32" i believe). Great everyday jeans (Domino is Canadian! :D).

Rock & Republic Posey Jeans

2) Rock & Republic Posey Jeans in Cruel Fushia
These are my first pair of coloured denim!!! Bright, colourful denim is all the rage for spring & summer. This fushia purple is BEAUTIFUL! Would've loved it more if it was stretchy. DIDN'T have to hem; the inseam was 29", perfect fit for my 163cm frame!

Joe's Jeans Chelsea Skinny

3) Joe's Jeans Chelsea Skinny in Fiona Black
I've been DYING for a pair of basic black skinnies. These are super skinny and i love them! Great with heels and because it's black, can definitely be dressed up for a night out! Fairly stretchy and because of its tight fit, i didn't have to hem them (let a little stove-pipe action go on!).  *ordered these from Dealuxe, that's why there's a I <3 dealuxe stringbag in the background lol*

I'm SOOOO happy with my denim purchases recently. Honestly, i've always shied away from buying denim online because it's always a gamble; with tops and shirts, fit is more forgiving but with bottoms, it either fits or it doesn't! Well-fitted bottoms can make or break an outfit.

I'm definitely itching to buy more jeans online...especially colour denim! Currently thinking of a pair of mustard yellow or maroon skinnies...:)

xo,
M.

Spring Comfort Pieces

Hi,

So here's a quick post on some spring items i picked up.

TOMS - sparkly silver sequins

First up are TOMS! TOMS have been all the craze for the last few years in terms of comfy footwear. The really neat thing about this brand is for every pair purchased, the company will donate one pair to children in need of shoes! I love supporting philanthropic companies!

These ARE very comfortable with a padded, cushioned foobed. And i actually think they're kind of cute! (although some would argue otherwise) I got these in SILVER SEQUINS for an extra pop of bling & dazzle! ;) I LOVE these.

However, the sequins aren't very sturdy...i wore them 3x and a string of sequins have already come off around the heel of my right shoe. :(

Wildfox Couture Baggy Beach Jumpers

Next up are WILDFOX COUTURE's BAGGY BEACH JUMPERS!

These are honestly the MOST comfortable shirts i've ever owned! Plus, they're actually very flattering on! I know they don't look like much but because of the stretchy, baggy cut, it naturally falls off your shoulders in the most nonchalent, casual way...it just looks sooo good on! And did i mention the ah-mazingly soft, pre-washed, worn-in-looking fabric? <3

I love throwing them on top of jeans to leggings to shorts. They look GREAT with everything and there are sooo many styles to choose from! They ARE a bit pricey at retail but i picked mine up during a sale (although it still ended up being over $60 a shirt...=/) i think they ARE worth it. They're the perfect lounge tops or shirts for days when you feel like you have nothing to wear!

Celebs like Ashley Tisdale to Taylor Swift have been spotted wearing these Wildfox baggy beach jumpers! :)

Anyway, more "spring" purchases coming up soon! Recently got a PURPLE purse. Guess what brand it's from! :P

Have a lovely weekend!

xo,
M.

First Gmarket Haul of 2012!

First Gmarket Haul of 2012! :)

Hello!

I'm back with another, long-waited GMARKET haul! :) My FIRST Gmarket haul of 2012!

This is probably the smallest order i've made from Gmarket, consisting only of 5 items.

Here's a rundown of this order:
Number of Items: 5
Order date:  March 12th, 2012
Order received: March 19th, 2012
Shipping: ￦35,500 (originally paid ￦53800)

This is a photo of the custom slip, filled by Gmarket. The prices declared are slightly lower than what i paid, minus shipping. I did not incur any custom/duty fees.

I ordered 2 blouses, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of oxford flats and 1 pair of flats.

1) Peach Chiffon Blouse

I've been obsessed with light, chiffon/silk blouses for spring. I recently bought a silk blouse from Aritzia and as gorgeous as it was, its price tag was also quite steep (over $100 for just one blouse). So i've turned to trusty Gmarket for some similar, less expensive dupes!

This blouse looks VERY similar to the ones being sold at Aritzia. It's made of chiffon, not silk but still a good, crepe-like material that's great for breezy spring weather. It's made in Korea and i love the drapey neckline, scrunched shoulder detail and front-pockets.

Overall, a well-made, well-cut and flattering blouse! <3

2) Blue Blouse

From the stock photos, i assumed this was also a chiffon blouse. Turns out this is made of a light, soft cotton material. Pretty periwinkle blue colour and i love how the front buttons are HIDDEN (there's a layer of fabric over the buttons so it actually doesn't look like a button-up blouse from the front). Another good spring staple! <3

3) Skinny Jeans

This is the second time i've ordered jeans from Gmarket. I've always hesitated from ordering jeans/pants because of the sizing and my Korean illiteracy. However, the styles and prices were just too good to pass up, so i've decided to take a chance. I ordered these in size 28 (after MUCH hesitation and indecision from the confusing size chart provided by the seller) and hoped for the best. These actually FIT ME LIKE A GLOVE! I normally wear size 27 in American jeans (7FAM, Rock&Republics) and these jeans fit me just right. It doesn't have much stretch and kinda smell (chemical-y smell) when first taken out of the poly bag but nothing a wash couldn't take care of. These are Made in China.

Fairly well-made for the price (couldn't have paid more than $15 WITHOUT shipping) and the best part? The length fits me perfectly! No need for alterations! Yay! :)

4) Tory Burch Inspired Flats

These look almost identical to the celeb-favourite Tory Burch Reva flats. These were a little more pricier than normal Gmarket shoes -  over $30 without shipping but are very well made (and a bargain compared to the real Tory Burchs that retail for over $200). They're Made in Korea and i'm not sure if they're made of real leather or not. Either way, the material is soft and good quality. Very comfortable and i like the gripped soles - prevents slipping and makes walking in them a dream!  I normally wear size 8US and purchased these in size 250. Love these!


UPDATE 04/04: Worn these for a week now and i regret to say: THESE HURT. :( They've left blisters all over my ankles. As much as i love these they're just not very comfortable. Messaged the seller and got confirmation that these are NOT made of real leather; made from "high quality artifical leather". 

5) Oxford Flats

I've been wanting a pair of simple, black oxford lace-ups since last spring. I LOVE the preppiness oxfords bring. These are obviously made of synthetic leather but are surprisingly pretty good quality for their price (was around $15 without shipping?)  Also has a strong chemical-y smell but other than that, no complaints. I also got these in size 250 but i found them a little lose in width (i have pretty narrow feet) without socks.

Overall, i'm very satisfied with this order. Although small, i love all my items and found that even with the expensive EMS shipping, all the items' qualities were well worth what i paid. I'm definitely going to try and buy more jeans next time - although it will always be a gamble - i generally find Gmarket jeans pretty cheap and they're shorter in length than American brands, which fits my petite frame perfectly. :)

Hope you guys enjoyed this short little, pre-spring haul! Leave a comment if you have any questions or would like to let me know about YOUR Gmarket order! ^_^

xo,

M.