I actually gave a sneak peek of the watch in my Going Around Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia post. Patty, Nikki and I were drawn by the SALE sign outside the Michael Kors boutique. Of course, being a bag lover, the first thing I checked- BAGS, while Patty went straight to the watches. Unfortunately, both sections weren’t included in the sale items. Since the MK bag I’ve been longing wasn’t available, I then visited the watches. I tried on the gold Runway watch I’ve been eyeing ever since, but I still didn’t had plans on buying. I really don’t have that strong urge to get one. I was (and still am) on a shopping ban anyway. BUT when Patty tried on the midsize tortoise watch, my eyes sparkled! I immediately asked for the oversized version. The moment I tried it on, I didn’t want to take it off already! Eeeek! My no-shopping promise in KL obviously didn’t happen! But no regrets…

Isn’t this Oversized Tortoise watch a beauty?! The dark brown face with golden accents matches the Tortoise acrylic bracelet and shiny golden stainless steel case. It has three sub-dials and date window too. So, what happened with the Golden Runway watch I’ve been eyeing? Obviously, it was left on their shelves. LOL! With the help of Patty and Nikki (thanks girls!), we thought that the Tortoise acrylic bracelet is more unique than the gold one. And since I already have gold watches and could even get a gold men’s watch at a cheaper price almost anywhere, this became the best option.

It’s priced at MYR 999, a bit more expensive than getting it in the US ($250).

Nevertheless, Patty and I got it. It’s too gorgeous to leave it behind. LOL!

While waiting for our watches to get resized…

And here we are having fun at the airport while waiting for our flight back to Manila… Pose, pose, pose with our twin watches!

Gift Card Co is the newest gift card company in the metro. They offer a wide variety of gift cards and checks to choose from. I am so lucky to have come across their website, www.giftcardco.ph Because of this, I can shop ’til I drop… I mean, shop in the comforts of my home! Hehehe! With gift cards, I don’t need to go through the hassle of deciding what shoe size or shirt color to give. More so, no hassle of wrapping and carrying bulky presents.

Gift Card Co. is just the answer to my Christmas list dilemma right now. They are indeed a one-stop shop. They have cards and checks for recreation, food, and apparel. For the health buff, a gift card from Fitness First will suit them. Those who are into sports would appreciate GCs from Nike Stadium or Planet Sports. Those kikay girls like me would go for The Spa, Lay Bare, Celebrity Nails, and Blow Up Babies Now, the ultimate safe present to give…FOOD! Give GCs from TGIFridays, Italianni’s, Bulgogi Brothers, Krazy Garlic, Crustasia, Sugarhouse, or Red Mango. These are just some of the brands to choose from.

Why visit 30 stores when all you need is just 1 store? Gift Card Co. truly has got the mall on a rack. Shopping has never been this convenient. Now, that’s the power of gift cards!

P.S.
Those who are still itching to go to the malls, you can visit Gift Card Co. at the 4th floor of Eastwood Mall until Dec 24. They’re open ’til midnight.

You can also check out their Facebook in this link. Be a fan to get a regular dose of updates on new brands, promos, and tie-ups.

Happy Shopping!

If you’ve seen this wedge before, it’s probably because…

One. You’ve seen me worn it in my outfit post. More details about my outfit below in my Tanjong Pagar post.

Two. It looks like the popular wedge from D&G.

Three. It looks like Jeffrey Campbell’s Mariel wedge.

Well, this pair really looks like D&G and Jeffrey Cambell. I’ve been drooling on them for quite some time now. Then, on the first day of my Singapore F1 trip, I chanced upon a Rubi store and saw this pair. I controlled myself thinking I won’t need it since I already have so much shoes that I haven’t worn. But really, can ladies have so much shoes??? Still, I left the store empty-handed. Hooray for me! (Yeah, right!)

The next morning, I received a text message asking me to do some sudden “business” thing. Oh gawd, I was on vacation! I didn’t bring any heels and I don’t have the clothes I was asked to wear. Eeek! I don’t have enough time to look for a certain kind of outfit and shoes. If I’d have to buy, I wanted something I really like- something I’d still be wearing even after that “business” thing. Panic mode. Good thing I remembered this pair of wedges I saw the day before. It’s good enough to make me look tall, so I rushed to Rubi. I snagged the last pair of my size and off I went to hunt for my outfit. See, I told you in my outfit post here that I “needed” to get it. LOL! This pair was heaven sent to me! Plus, it gave me luck! I was given 2 projects that day. Well of course, I wouldn’t say it’s because of the shoes. I strongly believe that everything is a blessing from God. It just so happened I was wearing this new pair, so I find it lucky. LOL! I have that tendency to associate luck with what I wear. It’s just my thing. Hehe!

Anyway, what made me love it even more is that it’s ultimately comfortable! The wedges may look a bit high, but I can wear them all day! I shopped around and went for a night out with it- literally the whole day! It’s just like wearing my wedge flip flops from Colin Stuart, but with more height. And the color? It’s just so perfect for my small collection. I have too much black shoes already. Thankfully, they have it in tan.

The best part has yet to be revealed. The price. It’s not D&G nor Jeffrey Campbell. It’s from Rubi, the accessory brand of Cotton On. So how much was I able to snag this pair?

SGD 45 or around USD 35!

Oooh… I just love great bargains!

Anyway, here’s one accessory find I almost forgot about. I was fixing my stuff recently when I saw this inside a H&M plastic bag. I can clearly remember how I fell in love with this necklace the moment I saw it hanging on their racks. I have this thing for bulky accessories. It can magically glam up an outfit, no matter how plain or basic the clothes are. When I saw this necklace, I thought- it can surely make a statement by itself. It’s bold. It’s glam. The downside: it’s heavy!!! But what the heck! I love how it looks! It’s not as if my neck can be chopped off just by wearing it. Haha! Anway, enough of my blabber. Here’s how it looks…

Closer look…

Yes, it looks heavy! Haha! But still, I love it! And yes, it’s just from H&M.

Stay tuned as I try this on in my next outfit post!

Who doesn’t love UNIQLO? It’s one of the brands I’ve been hoping to land here in Manila, together with H&M and Cotton On. I never fail to visit these shops when I’m out of the country. UNIQLO mostly has the basics at an affordable price, without sacrificing quality. And since UNIQLO originated from Japan, I definitely can’t afford to miss it while I was there! Of course, the earthquake didn’t stop me from shopping! The hotel I booked in was sinful. Department stores are just a minute walk from where we lived. And the stores in it…

But believe it or not, I wasn’t really drawn to such kind of designer brands at that time. What really caught my eyes were the Japanese labels. Now I understand why Tokyo is called the fashion mecca of Asia. Every garment was to-die-for! I swear! Tokyo fashion is indeed jaw dropping. Every piece seemed to be unique. No words will suffice to describe my love for Tokyo’s street style fashion. Tokyo is definitely the fashionista’s haven. Here are some photos of their chic stores.

This last photo was taken at Harajuku, known to be the fashion capital of the world because of its unique street fashion.

As much as I wanna go on a shoping spree, my moolah won’t allow me. Japanese brands are way too expensive! A trendy top could cost me about $200. I’m sure not all their local brands cost as much, but that’s somehow the price range in that department store we went to. Well, we all know that Tokyo is known to be one of most expensive cities in the world, which explains why shopping there can cost an arm and a leg. With that being said, I ended up with my all-time favorite brands, such as H&M, Forever 21 and UNIQLO. LOL! They never fail me, as always… Haha!

The moment I entered UNIQLO, I saw racks with signs- “Designers Invitation Project“.

The Designers Invitation Project is a collaborative project between UNIQLO and successful and up-and-coming designers that always breaks new ground and challenges conceptions of style on a global scale. Designers Invitation Project presents products that embody “basic” yet “high-end” fashion through the fresh vision and sensibilities of the designers combined with UNIQLO fabrics and technology.

Designers, such as Castello Tagliapietra, Zechia, Han Ahn Soon, Jil Sander and Suzuki Takayuki, have been part of this project. All the garments in those racks were such a beauty. I initially wanted to leave because I already knew how much a piece would cost me. On second thought, I checked the price tag and to my surprise, I saw the numbers ¥ 2,990 (about $ 35 ). Oooh! I definitely can’t leave UNIQLO without at least 1 dress from those racks. And since I can’t afford to take home a Japanese designer brand, I chose this dress made by Takayuki Suzuki…

For those who doesn’t know him, here’s a bit of a background:

Takayuki Suzuki was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1975. He launched his brand “suzuki takayuki” in 2002, and has been taking part in the Tokyo Collection since 2007. Suzuki started “ikkuna/suzukitakayuki”, a brand that specializes in organic cotton, as well as “toha”, a collaboration project line. In September 2009, he opened his store in Shibuya PARCO PART-1.

I’ve worn this dress twice and I got a lot of stares and compliments! It may look plain and basic, but the uneven hemline makes it look chic. I also love the big slouchy pockets!

The dress is stylish in itself, but it still calls for accessories. I layered some necklaces and wore a leopard print bangle, all with the same color scheme of my olive dress. Then, I thought that a turban would go well with the style of the dress. It gives that boho feel in the outfit. What do you think? The turban is actually a printed blush scarf, which I got from H&M in Harajuku too. I instantly fell in love with its color that I couldn’t take my hands off it. Hehe! Yes, it’s the blush color once again.

Of course, a pop of color is always nice. This orange shoulder bag is another H&M find.

Dress: Suzuki Takayuki for UNIQLO
Bag: H&M
Lace-up booties: H&M
Scarf (worn as a turban): H&M
Necklace with flower details: CMG
Feather necklace: H&M
Leather braided bracelet: H&M
Watch: Gucci
Leopard print bangle: from London

Anyway, the boots I bought is what I have been looking for ages now. Well, it’s everywhere, but I’m price conscious when it comes to these long boots. I don’t want to spend a lot on something I can barely use so my hunt for such inexpensive boots took me like forever. Haha! Also, I have another requirement for long boots. It has to be flats. No heels. Okay, if there is, maybe an inch is fine. Why? Because as I said earlier, I only get to wear them when I travel and that surely entails a lot of walking! Maybe if I live in a cold area, I would love to buy long boots with killer heels as well so I can wear them for dinner dates and night outs. Oh well, again, there’s no winter here in Manila so I’m just bound to get flats for travels.

Anyway, enough of the talkies. Here’s what I’ve scored!

It’s a thigh high boots!

What I love about it is I can also make it slouchy by just pulling it down. I can actually adjust it to whatever height I want- knee high, thigh high, mid-calf, or even short boots. I can just slouch it or fold it in whatever way I want.

And my last requirement? It has an inch heels only, perfect for my travels! Tokyo, here I come! Hehe!

Now the best part, how much did I get it?! Can you guess???

…
..
.

It’s only CNY 120, which is around USD 18! I have to give credit to my bargaining skills! Haha! Can you guess the first price given to me?! CNY 600 (USD 89)! I actually bought it in a known shopping mall for foreigners, making all the shops very abusive. The last time I went there with my family, I remember my mom bargaining for 50% off. Now, I thought of asking for 80% off for everything I bought in there. Haha! You just don’t know how hard it is to ask for a discount in there! They literally get mad and shout at you. Well, I’ve conquered my fear! LOL! I stick to the first price I ask and leave the store if they don’t want to give it. They’ll chase you anyway and end up agreeing with your price. Oh, but this boots is special! I had a very loooong discussion with the SA. I would admit, she gave me a hard time! I sticked to the first price I uttered, which is CNY 120, until the very end. It even went to the point wherein she was grabbing my arms, pleading me to get the boots at her price, which lowered until CNY 200. Ooooh, thankfully I had my jacket on that I didn’t feel much of the pressure of her hands. She was literally squeezing me hard. She was doing that while shouting at me, even if I was in another store already! Can you imagine that?! Scandal indeed! Haha! But yours truly won the “battle”! Haha! I ended up not being so friendly at her because of what she was doing to me. I told her in a not-so-nice tone that I would only get it for CNY 120, that’s it! She gave up and gave it to me! Yay! Haha!

Well, to make her feel a little better, I got 2 pairs! LOL! I was so happy with the price and of course, with my long lost boots! I got another pair in gray! YAY!

*outfit is the same as the previous post, except for the cardigan and the boots*

On Lush Angel: tank top, skirt and leather bracelet from a bazaar; H&M black cardigan; boots from China; Gucci gold watch; vintage necklace from mom; studded belt from Bangkok; Chanel 2.55 medium flap bag

Pink has been a popular lip color for months now and I still find it really hawt! It may be an ’80′s-inspired makeup, but I find the color so refreshing and youthful. It’s so girly. It’s so fun. It’s so flirty. It can also be a nice alternative for your red hot lipstick. It perfectly matches a nude or natural-look makeup. But please, don’t be too matchy-matchy!!! Avoid pink lipstick if you’re already wearing pink from head-to-toe. Remember, it works like your reliable sexy red lipstick. It serves as a great accessory when you’re going for the minimalist look, like when wearing your little black dress.

So what’s the hottest brand in the market carrying this lush-cious pink lipstick?

Who else, but M.A.C.! They have two popular pink shades, namely Lady Gaga and Pink Nouveau. I tell you, these two are selling like pancakes! These are always out of stock in M.A.C. stores here in Manila. I’m just so lucky that I was able to get one recently! Yay! Finally!

After months of searching, I finally found my Pink Nouveau satin lipstick!

I got it in Duty Free Fiesta Mall for $17. And what’s even better is that their Peso Power is back, so $1 is only PHP 40! Weeee!

Too bad they don’t have Lady Gaga. Well, I’m already satisfied with my Pink Nouveau. The color is just so lush-cious! It perfectly blends well when I wear my ever reliable nude makeup.

So, what’s your take on having pinky pouty lips?

I have always been a bag lover more than a shoe lover. But now, is it becoming the other way around??? I hope not! LOL! Probably because I have already made a vow when it comes to buying bags- that is, I can only buy when I’m abroad, specifically outside Asia (since designer bags are a lot more expensive in Asia than in Europe or U.S.). And since I’ve been travelling around Asia these past few months, my bag purchase for the year stopped with my Chanel GST, which was last May 2010. Hehe! Well, I can’t really congratulate myself for having the patience and self-control ‘coz I really don’t have that. LOL! I think I set my eyes on shoes to distract myself! It’s only now that I realized that starting mid-November up to this date, I bought 7 pairs of shoes already! I can’t even remember all the shoes I bought since I got back from London, where this shoe craze started. I remember having shipped 5 pairs from the States last June. Then, I got several shoes on my trips this year instead of bags. I think 2010 is a year of shoes for me! Thinking about it, I actually bought over 30 pairs for the year! Waaaah! That’s too much for me! I’m on bag ban and now, on shoe ban! And I’m nearly on gadget ban too, I tell you! So what’s left?! Ugh! But I’m really liking my dear friend’s (MFJ) new loot from Jeffrey Campbell, as seen in her post. Oh noez! Please stop me!!! LOL!

Anyway, enogh of my rant. Sorry ’bout that. As I write this post, I just realized how much I have spent on shoes for the year. Tsk tsk tsk… And thinking about it, 80% of which are high heels! Ugh! It’s all New Look’s fault. My shoe craze all started there. Hahaha! Okay fine, and my bag vow. LOL! And now, here’s another New Look find when I went to Singapore last month. Just imagine my joy when I was reunited with New Look! I spent an hour in the shoe section until I decided to get one pair. Yes, only one pair. Well, I didn’t had any choice then ‘coz our luggage can only fit one pair of bulky shoes. Ummm… Because I already went shoe shopping the day before I got this. LOL! So expect several shoe break-ins in the days to come… Hehe! Anyhoo, without further ado, here’s my new suede ankle boots with button details from New Look.

I find it really gorgeous! I can pair it with a dress, tights or jeans. It can make a casual outfit look fab. It can make me look dressed up effortlessly. And the comfort? Like any of my shoes from New Look, it really is uber comfy to wear despite the 4 inches heels.

And the price? It’s GBP 29.99 (as seen in their website) or a little more than PHP 2,000. Sorry, I forgot how much I bought them in Singapore, but from what I remember, it’s a bit more expensive than this. I personally think it’s still a good buy though. What do you think?

Nah! How I wish! But yeah, it is something you can wear and not really a “someone”… Hehe! How I wish I can drag along my beloved anytime and anywhere I go. Hehe! Anyway, what is it?

Yeah, it’s a shoes- an uber comfy shoes! It really is perfect when you’re gonna do a lot of walking! I used it while strolling around Sentosa and Universal Studios in Singapore and I didn’t even had to stop to rest my feet. Hehe! So wondering what’s the brand???

Well, it’s kinda obvious already in my first photo- Crocs! Yes, it’s Crocs! To be honest, I never imagined myself buying from Crocs. I’m not a fan of those big shell-like slippers, even if people say how comfortable they are. I just couldn’t imagine myself wearing one. One, my feet look big on it. Second, sorry for those who own one, but it really looks hidious in any outfit. It can be a fashion disaster. Thank goodness they came out with different styles of shoes and sandals. Now they’re catering to a broader market and I can now enjoy their soft and cushioned shoes!

I got this pair during the Citibank sale, which I posted here. The prices were crazy! I was initially hesitant to drop by since I wasn’t really planning to buy anything at Crocs. Good thing I did as prices were as low as PHP 900! In fact, this pair, which is called Santa Cruz Corduroy, was originally priced at PHP 2,900 but I got it for only around PHP 1,250 – PHP 1,500. Sorry, I couldn’t remember the exact price. Eeeek! That’s why when I saw and tried on this pair, I didn’t think twice. It’s really perfect for long walks. Check out my next post on how I wore it.

P.S.

*Shameless plug* For all those who haven’t dropped by the St. James The Great Christmas Bazaar, last day is tomorrow! Drop by our booth (Row 7 Parking lot) and get to see our latest Jam Pack items. See yah all there!

It was my dream Mulberry Oversized Alexa Bag!!!

Again, I heard a loud knock. I suddenly opened my eyes and saw my mom. I got confused until I realized that everything was just a dream! Well, I waited for my mom to bring out a bag behind her. You know, my dream could be some foreshadowing of what is bound to happen. LOL! Too bad, there was really no Mulberry paper bag. There was really no Mulberry Oversized Alexa. Everything was really just a dream that felt so real!

I know this sounds pathetic, but when I’m in love with a bag, I dream of it almost every night. I admit, I’m part of the crazy world of baghags but I guess I already have tamed a lot when it comes to the addiction. Probably, it’s because I’m quite satisfied already with my small collection. I have already aquired most of the must-have bags I really wanted to own (for now). Of course, I still have a number on my list, but that could wait. I promised myself to purchase my bags only when I travel abroad. And yeah, part of my list is that Mulberry Oversized Alexa bag, which I’ve been dreaming of these days. Geeesh! That’s bad! When I dream on a specific bag over and over again, I end up getting it. I’m not really planning on purchasing one until next year though. I’ve spent to much on gadgets during the latter part of the year so I don’t want any big spending anymore until the year ends. Besides, I’ve been eyeing on getting some other bag next year when I have the chance to travel. Mulberry isn’t really on my priority list right now. But how am I going to stop dreaming about that Mulberry Oversized Alexa?! The answer- satisfying this craving with a…

Forever 21 satchel ala Mulberry Alexa… LOL!

Yes, you read that right! This is just from Forever 21. It may not be the real thing. In fact, it has a lot of differences, like the handle, the locket and the leather (of course), so it’s not really a Mulberry Alexa knock off. Haha! It may not completely satisfy my Mulberry craving, but I’m totally in love with its style and color. I have been using it as an everyday bag these days. I love that I don’t have to worry too much that it might get scratched or something. Plus, I can even carry it by hand or on my shoulder.

Oh, and if you saw my Facebook Page (if you haven’t added me, please do “Like” my facebook page, www.facebook.com/lushangelblog), I mentioned last week that I’ve been longing for this bag. This particular bag ran out of stock at Forever 21 here in Manila. The SA told me that it’s highly unlikely that they would reproduce it. My friend, Tel, even searched for it over the internet and saw one selling it on ebay at a higher price. Well, we weren’t that desperate! Hello, that’s already used and a Forever 21 satchel with a premium?! Are you okay?! Months have passed and I completely forgot about that bag already. One day, I saw my co-fashionista blogger, Ava, giving an update that she saw the Mulberry-like bag back at Forever 21! Oh gosh, you should have seen my face lit up! When she said that there are only 3 stocks left at the store, I rushed to Forever 21 2 days after. I actually thought I won’t get hold of that bag ever again since I wasn’t able to visit the store right away. I sort of lost hope already. That’s the reason why I was uber happy when I still saw 2 pieces left during my visit! I immediately got the 2 and paid for it. The other one I bought for my friend.

This bag is nothing biggie, I know. It’s not a designer bag that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars, but for some reason, I’m just really into it! Probably it’s because I once wanted it so badly but knew I won’t ever have it (since I was already informed that the store doesn’t really do repeat orders). Then, after a few months, I saw it in stock. It was probably just the anticipation that hyped up my excitement when I bought it. LOL!

Oh and believe it or not, I haven’t dreamt of the Mulberry Oversized Alexa yet since I got this! LOL!