Tote[s]: Fendi Vintage Bag

Allow me to dust off my keyboard [so to speak], stop promiscuously hopping from one blog to the next, stop googling the Bana and actually commit, somewhat, to a blog entry. As I continue to journey through my self-inflicted Ibiza-caused penury, I realise that I often end up using only about 10% of my wardrobe as I rotate one summer dress after another. [I know...stop the presses!] And this especially extends to my [non extensive] bag 'collection'.

As I often head straight from work to play to netball to boyfriend's abode, I prefer roomy totes to small dainty bags. My Mulberry Bayswater normally does the trick. But I was delighted when I unearthed this vintage Fendi bag from my room, having [criminally!] forgotten about it the first time I had received it as a sartorially-challenged and fashion-ignorant teen. Fye on my adolescent self.

So, what qualifies an item as vintage, I hear ye fashpeeps cry? It must be at least seven years old. As it was previously used by my mother [she of blogger fame!] it definitely passes the test. Its fragility only adds to its beauty. As the stripes trend continues to dominate fashion, I shall totes be toting this along to Ibiza next week.

For the [Wo]man who has everything

Ever wondered what to get for the friend who has everything? Maybe for the pal who is a The Wind in the Willows fan? Put down that vintage Birkin and look this way! [Vegetarians and PETA members need not apply]. A friend of mine brought back the most unique souvenir from the Philippines. A toad handbag. Pretty self-explanatory, really. A hollowed out toad with an inner lining, zip added across its arms, and long brown straps. I'm still not sure if this qualifies as fashion but I thought it was so funny I had to share it.

If I had to choose, I still prefer [faux] snakeskin. But I'm pretty sure a real toad skin anything is not going to offend anyone morally. Just maybe aesthetically.

xxx

Bag spy #1: owls and geek chic

Hello! [crickets]. Fear not, this post has no relation to any wizards with questionable scars. As sometime blogess and aspiring doyenne of the fashion world, allow me to whet your sartorial appetite, if you will, with snap shots nf bags that have caught my eye out and about in Hong Kong/ greater China. I find that my eye tends to be drawn to very minimalist graphic shapes bag wise.

Above [note my excellent cropping skills fashpeeps] : dainty backpacks, preferably in a shade of brown, are forecasted to be huge for next season. I literally just returned from inspecting a shipment of similar styles in various designs for a client in Europe. So 90's, so chic with a dash of geek [I aspire to inhabit this motto!] I once again had to curtail a request for an extra sample. And allow me [the rare privilege?] to behave according to my Blonde hair color when I say OMG OWL ON BAG OWL ON BAG I LOVE OWL STUFF YAY! Ahem. See below:

Adding an owl to any item instantly instills it with geek chic.  And wins my stamp of approval.


Now I must go wash off my banana and olive oil hair mask.
Toodles
xxx

Chinese street style: Lace, stripes and peaked shoulders

Been so busy lately I've barely been blogging. That and the fact that I frequently post blurry mobile pics in lieu of using my fancy Canon DSLR camera [that shiz is heavy!] further undermines my tenuous status as a 'blogger'. Just thought I'd post a couple of cute street style esque snapshots around Hong Kong/ Guang Zhou [capital of Guang Dong, site of many a factory]. Above is taken at a wholesale bag market in the latter area where I had the delightful task of taking around European buyers to select ladies handbags. A cornucopia of real and counterfeit, it was fun trying to 'spot the fake' [was that the sound of Chanel turning in her grave?], which came in various qualities and degrees of authenticity. Some were downright insulting to one's sartorial intelligence. "Gu Chi?! Really? You're sure you're not a fake bag supplier?" All equally amusing.

Above: This lady, who probably has no idea the honour bestowed upon her by being displayed on my blog, caught my eye with her monochrome outfit. I especially liked the harem pant with the striped top that had peaked lace covered shoulders. Each shop had a curtain to cover the bag designs lest neighbouring bag manufacturers try to steal designs. Crafty.

Speaking of peaked shoulders, look what I spotted on the subway....

Seen these Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Wings Platform Sandals everywhere in Hong Kong.

And how could I resist snapping a pic of a cute boxy purse?

Visiting the bag area again tomorrow for inspections on material, style, hardware etc. Have more blogs I've been "planning" on writing for a while...will update once laptop is fixed!

Toodles

xxxx