If you’re following me on twitter, you would probably know that about 2 weeks ago, I was tweeting about going dirt broke because I bought something ridiculously expensive and that I prolly had to eat soba for the rest of my life.

I didn’t tell anyone what I bought (save for my BFFs) and purposely kept it a secret because I didn’t exactly “purchase” it myself and I didn’t want to jinx anything because I didn’t receive it until yesterday.

OH YES I DID!

Wow have I been MIA or what *nervous laughter* I have a really bad problem – I am just terrible with money. I think it would be an amusing hobby for you guys to just sit back and watch how I spend my okane (tis the japanese word for money) Let’s break down my shopping addiction in simple point form so you can fully understand how much of a savvy obsessed shopper I can be am.

♥ Every morning when I reach work, I check my emails like a good, responsible employee…but as Gmail loads, I’m busy looking at another tab which has Forever21.com loaded (MY GOD AREN’T TABS THE GREATEST INVENTION AFTER MOZILLA FIREFOX?!) F21 updates their website daily every morning (about 8:20am Singapore time) and as much as I feel that pretty much 60% of their stuff are trashy, the rest are good if you want to get some basics for layering or one-off pieces.

♥ SHOES, duh. I have no qualms spending a maximum of $150 on a pair of shoes I really really like. Whenever I see a pair I die over and while most girls would just take a step back and take some time to think “Hrm, would I wear this?” “Is the heel too high?” “Is it practical?” “Do I have clothes in my closet I can actually pair the shoes with?” “Do I have something similar already?” – well you can shove it, honey because I’m already at the counter paying for the shoes.

♥ Zara and Mango sales are bad for the wallet. Srsly. Most months I can *somewhat* manage my finances and some months I’m just dead broke. Those months I’m short of cash? You can trust that a Mango or Zara sale happened sometime in those months. Anyway, side tracking here – HOW CRAPPY WAS THE MANGO SALE LAST SEASON OMG?! The clothes were uninspired, dull and just gross (well, luckily for my wallet there was nothing much to buy lol).

♥ Ion Orchard. This shopping mall opened less than a month ago and already I am proclaiming it my favourite mall in Singapore. It’s just…beautiful. I love the architecture, the range of shops (from Louis Vuitton, miu miu to high street brands like New Look, Topshop etc) Obviously Topshop isn’t something new here but the clothes in their store in Ion seem to look better and their racks are more organised somehow? It could be just a placebo effect but whatever, I love it.

I actually bought a blazer from Topshop a week ago because one day I woke up and randomly decided to buy one more blazer to add to my teeny tiny collection. Ok no, I lied. I was just walking into Topshop at Ion Orchard and omg they had so many pretty blazers on display! I eventually fell in love with this peachy nude blazer, such an unconventional color I know raitttt – which was tailored pretty well for Topshop standards and it was slightly nipped at the waist so OK MUST HAVE, PEOPLE, MUST HAVE.

Blazers are actually versatile pieces any girl (or guy) should have. Wear the slouchiest outfit you can manage, throw in a beautifully tailored blazer (if you have the money, I would suggest getting one from Yves Saint Laurent but if you’re poor like me – Topshop & Zara aren’t bad) and you have casual chic going on bb.

Nippon Vogue actually had a feature on the tailored blazer in the issue last month which I thought was nicely done, so here they are!

And since the images are huge ass, I’ve magicked up a read more link out of some wool and yarn so your bandwidth won’t die on me ^_^

Just some 20 odd screenshots I took of my favourite scenes (which is pretty much er, every scene lol) in the new CHANEL no 5 ad featuring the parisian beauty Audrey Tautou who reunites with her Amélie director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, for this new campaign. A simple storyline made captivating by lovely saturated colors (which is what Jean-Pierre Jeunet is famous for), stunning film locations in Paris and Istanbul and a bit of CHANEL magic. You can watch the entire ad here.

I spent my whole lunch hour painstakingly hitting the pause button to screencap the commercial, if you would like bigger versions of the screenshots or would like to use them in your blog etc, I would really appreciate it if you dropped me a comment. Thank you ;D

Model Jessica Stam at Anna Wintour’s annual costume met ball. Her face looked fresh and her eyes…so striking. Now all I wished was that she wore a different dress because dayumm, that Rodarte dress is not flattering at all (thus I had to crop that crap out of the photo above – can’t let you guys see the shimmery peach wrapping paper monstrosity of it)

Stam has probably been one of my favourite models since forever (Aaron hates her – shut up, you) I don’t know- she’s just quite ethereal, her eyes are just one of her best features – that pale cerulean shade is just not from this earth.

It’s funny- I’ve been reading up a lot on the May issue of Vogue Paris and have been wanting to get my hands on a copy pretty much because of these beautiful beauty shots of model Daria Werbowy. I waited almost impatiently for the day to end so I could run over to my favourite book store to get a copy but the only copies of Vogue Paris the store had were the April issue (with Scarlett Jo) on the cover. Dejected but not wanting to leave without buying anything, I bought the issue.

I hate how I have to wait a whole month for an upcoming issue – what is the point of that? When you finally get the issue, it’s already outdated.

I’ve been looking through the scans of the new mag publication, LOVE. Too bad it’s not sold here (yet, i hope.)

Naomi was telling me how awesome SKINS was and how much I needed this character named “Sid” on the show in my life; I was bored and watched the pilot episode on a whim. I love how everyone on the show is just crazy, selfish, deluded and everything just seems to be connected somehow. I’ve just about completed season 1 and baby, it’s a wild world out there.

And I’m finally done rewatching season 1 – 6 of Sex and The City & the movie as well. Feels just as fabulous as though I’ve never watched them before! That’s genuine television gold right there. I’m psyched they’re filming another movie for the series!

I did some *major* online shopping on Saturday since ASOS.com was having a 75% sale, got a miu miu inspired brocade skirt and a crazy poofy dress – pictures when they arrive!

Sheer Jersey Shirred Knee-Length Full Skirt in Forest please. Sorry I’ve not blogged in a week! Time just flies and commits suicide. I discovered something new in the chocolate aisle at the supermarket today, Kinder Bueno White! It’s the best thing that could ever happen to my top chocolate treat – a white chocolate makeover.

Carine dedicated a whole issue of Vogue Paris to CHANEL and according to my fashion bitch, Aaron, it is an absolute godsend. Argh I hope it’s not sold out at Kinokuniya.

img credit: tfs

In Asia for the very first time, close to 80 spectacular costumes and 60 sketches from the collection of the Centre National du Costume de Scène (National Stage Costume Centre, Moulins, France) and from Lacroix’s personal collection, will take stage at the National Museum of Singapore from March to June 2009. Organized by the Centre National du Costume de Scène, Moulins, France and Artex Art Services.

Venue: Exhibition Gallery 1 & The Canyon Date @ The National Museum of Singapore

20th March 2009 – 7 June 2009 10:00am – 6:00pm

OMFG très excited! Who wants to go with me? Click here for more info of the exhibit.

img credit: foto_decadent & brandingstyles

I hate you arty farty people, including you, Aaron! Aaron sketched out a model from a previous ad campaign, told me to guess who it was and I could have sworn it was Anja Rubik but well I was wrong – it’s Angela Lindvall in a Chloe F/W 2003 campaign. Despite my mistake, I must say Angela looks like Anja in the photo! It’s a lovely drawing, Aaron so shut up, stop bitching and sketch out more!

Yeah tea noir is back with a new layout. I got rid of the old magazine-ish inspired layout because it wasn’t very “me”. Being trained in webdesign has made me appreciate layouts with beautiful grids but I’ve always had this vision (ooh big word) of tea noir being a casual, less-structured site with free-flowing entries. I’ve also made it more personal by adding some of my webdesign trademarks i.e patterns, textures. I’m still figuring out whether the alignment/color of certain elements fit together but whatever, I’m happy with this for now. Changes can always be made periodically anyway ;D

img credit: color pencil sketch by aaron.