The newly launched Sony Vaio P. One word. Gorgeous.

Obsidian black

Olivine green

Garnet Red

Crystal White

If you know me, you know that I am always up for a good bargain (or two). Budgeting does not necessitate a compromise on style and quality - many generic or mass market brands are as good as, if not better than their brand name counterparts. The allure of designer brands are in part a masterful machination of the marketers and advertisers who work their emotional magic into campaigns so that we feel a certain way when we buy into their brands. Now that we are smack in the midst of a recession, the best feeling is one of extra moolah in the bank. In the course of reviewing different brands of cosmetics and skincare, I have discovered to my surprise that sometimes generic and mass market brands give designer brands a run for their money. ZA for example, (I absolutely love this brand for its performance and price) has a two way powder which trumps at least two other expensive two way powders I’ve tried. Fancl cleansing oil works just as well as the much more expensive Shu Uemura A/O Cleansing Oil. Johnson Clean and Clear Facial Wash is one of the best basic facial cleanser I’ve used. Here’s some of my own tips for indulging and yet saving money in the process-

1. I love trying out new toiletries and find it friendlier on the pocket and my attention span when I purchase them in a travel or sample size. I find these mostly in Watsons, Guardian and CK.
2. I recommend fr3b for their free skincare samples.
3. Instead of buying books, borrow from the library or book mooch.
4. Check out the Salvation Army store at 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road Singapore 678106 Operating hours: 10.00am - 6.00pm (Mon - Thu), 10.00am - 9.00pm (Fri - Sat).
5. I look out for sales like a hawk, though this takes a little discipline on one’s part. My all time sales mantra is - never buy it just because it is on sale or cheap. Buy it if you would buy it anyway if it was on full price retail. That is real savings.
6. DIY for basics like hair masks.
7. If you cannot afford to carry a designer bag but must carry one, please do not carry a fake. There are affordable options like That Bag I want and Be a Fashionista.
8. You could make your own bag. Learn to sew here.
9. 30 easy ways to save money from Dumb Little Man.
10. 50 ways to be a recessionista from Times Online.

What are your style budget tips?

SM Goh says we have to contribute to the economy so here’s part of my loyal contribution

Discovered this brand Sofft lately. It’s not available here though. The insoles are very well crafted - makes me feel like I am walking in a fluff of cloud.

Soft lambskin leather that molds to the feet.

Another brand I discovered - Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole. Mary janes with buttery soft insoles!!

Dorothy Perkins is having a sale! Prices start from $19 for accessories and $39 for a dress. I managed to bag quite a bargain - a white classic shift dress at $59 (priced originally at $109).

The bargain - $59 (oh, happiness)

$59 (still in two minds about this. I like the design but the frills add bulk to my bust)

Rich purple smocked dress at only $49! (no, I didn’t get this for obvious reasons)

Sidenote - Topshop is also having a sale!

Because I am such a hopeless retail therapy addict.

Clinique Colour for a Cause lipstick in limited edition ribbon pink colour - retails at S$31 ($10 will be donated). Available at local Clinique counters.

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection - Tulle lip colour and Pink quartz lip gloss - retails at S$55 (S$10 will be donated). Available at local Bobbi Brown counters.

Lacoste Watch

Otherwise known as The Top Ten Essentials for the Plus Size Woman.

1. A White Shirt that is

• fitted to show off your curves
• snug but not tight. Any clothing that is too tight instantly adds on 10 pounds to your figure.
• not baggy or loose. A sack-like silhouette is not flattering nor does it look sharp
• made from a good quality cotton mix. It should weigh down properly and hold its shape.

2. Boot cut Jeans in dark indigo.

• Skinny or tapered cuts are not recommended as plus size women tend to have wider curvier hips - these two cuts don’t do much to elongate the lines of the body.
• A dark denim looks more slimming and goes well with either light or dark tops

3. Black Pencil skirt

• Pick a heavy fabric like gaberdine or wool mix that skims your hips comfortably.
• A knee length skirt helps to elongate the line of the body

4. Black Wrap Dress

• Pick a fabric in either rayon or cotton.
• A V neckline helps to draw the eye in, narrowing the silhouette.
• It can be dressed up for work days or dressed down for weekends.

5. A signature piece of jewellery

• It could be a pair of earrings or a signature cocktail ring - depending on your personal preferences.
• Proportions matter, so opt for a chunky or bold piece.

6. White fitted tee.

• Here, you can get good quality tees from Gap and Zara etc.
• Else, you can order online from Target.com.
• Be sure to get a well fitted piece so that the tee falls snugly on the body
• The length should extend beyond the hip so as to elongate the lines of the body

7. A good pair of leather pumps

• Make sure it comes with good sturdy heels for support and comfort
• Opt for leather soles so that feet can breathe easily

8. A chic watch

9. Black single breasted jacket in a good weighted fabric.

• I like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Ralph Lauren and Armani.

10. A good quality leather bag which you can use for work or weekends.

“What’s wrong with buying a good quality imitation?”, you ask.

The counterfeit market is not funded by one or two ignorant person(s) asking this question. It is fuelled by women around the world happily buying counterfeit goods and who would ask the same question if questioned. What they also don’t know is that the $100 they paid for each of their imitation LV bags is channeled into money laundering and funding underground businesses.

The majority of counterfeit goods are manufactured in Asia, mostly from China and Korea, and are made by slave workers. Most of them are young children, some as young as six (!), who are taken away from their homes to work in shockingly poor conditions, and for as little as a dollar an hour. The counterfeiting industry rakes up to $650 billion a year. That $650 billion is going somewhere, and you can be sure it’s not going back to the child labour who make these merchandise. The money goes into cash flow supporting the drug business, arms business and funding international terrorism.

Some people think it is not worth it to pay $10,000 for a Birkin. Some may not be able to afford the real item. If one can find a knock-off out there that is a hundred times cheaper, why pay so much for the real thing?

But stop to ponder a moment. Why is the real bag priced that high in the first place? Birkin handbags are hand-made, stitch by stitch, by experienced craftsmen, one of the primary factors contributing to the high price of all Hermes handbags. The production of each bag may take up to 48 work hours, translating into weeks. Involving a multitude of steps, each bag is of very high quality and immense craftsmanship. When you think about the cost of a specialized artisan who makes those bags, it’s very much worth the price.

Counterfeits on the other hand, are of extremely inferior quality. Instead of using fine lambskins or calfskins, counterfeiters use plastic or man-made leather. These will not be lasting and the designs are usually off. Even for the so called “good quality” imitations, the stitching is usually inferior and not even, the printing skewed and the print (if any) off colour. People who carry imitation goods may not have any idea that it is painfully obvious that they are projecting a false glamorization.

The issue here though, is not about how much business they lose anymore, because in most cases, consumers who resort to purchasing a counterfeit probably won’t buy the real thing anyway. The real issue comes in what does it stand for and how far back you trace it as to the slave labor that happened in the beginning. It’s an intellectual property and a human rights issue, and that is what’s serious. The luxury brands will always be making money because luxury goods will always be a hot commodity. When there is a high demand for luxury goods, there will be counterfeits.

France has laws implemented to target the counterfeiting industry. If you enter France with a fraudulent item, you will be fined very heavily, and your item will be confiscated. That is what they’re doing to protect their national industry. It does not seem to be happening in Asia soon, but in time to come, I hope to see that happening.

Ultimately, it is really up to us- the consumers. When consumers boycott counterfeits, there will be no need for it. If that doesn’t happen, it will continue to be there; it will continue to be a multi million dollar industry.

Let us do our part in not making child labour lucrative.

De-luxe bath sampler.

L’Occitane candles.

Silence.

My bathtub.

Shalom.

With me, any activity translate into a fashion need. As can be evidenced from my belly dancing classes:

Forest green and black

You can’t tell from the picture, but this is a very luxuriously deep burgundy purple. It was the last piece and luckily my sharp eye ferretted it out of the pile of scarves.

Yes, you don’t need to say it. I know I am hopeless.

I saw this

on Amazon (oh…DEER! Rinna Black Pump
US$149.00) and my, my, does it remind me of this model.

Christian Louboutin
black python ‘Hung-Up’ pumps
US$825.00

What a blatant cheap imitation. It’s not even cheap at US$149.

I know many people will disagree with me and even think that I am snobbish but it’s not even the issue here. I really dislike brands or companies that imitate high fashion wholesale and try to pass it off as the real McCoy. You are leeching off others’ creativity, stealing others’ ideas and passing it off as your own, and are no better than a thief.

High street brands are known to be inspired by the couture houses, by releasing their own “take” of the latest trends. While inspired does not equate ‘copy wholesale’, they can go overbroad sometimes, as can be seen in the See By Chloe’s recent legal victory over Topshop.

For this misstep, Topshop agreed to pay the Paris house �12,000 (roughly S$36,000) in damages and legal costs and destroy the remaining 1,000 odd dresses.

**

Which brings me to our dear beloved Charles and Keith, lauded to be our national shoe provider. Indeed, whenever I walk past a C&K store, it will be packed with ladies who are lured in by the designs and the prices. After all, S$39.90, heck even S$59.90, is still very affordable if not cheap for a pair of shoes. I don’t object to their price, because after all, it corresponds to the quality of the materials they use and the comfort level (low). I have never worn one pair of C&K shoes that did not give me grief (yes, I was also lured by the design and the price too!) Many a times, I had to buy another pair of shoes while I am outside (yes, I couldn’t even wait till I get home) while cursing C&K for inflicting their inferior soles on my unsuspecting soles.

My point is, lately I have realized that they have moved from the “inspired” zone to the “no holds barred copycat zone”.

Prada, Armani and Chanel (and many other designers) have all been ripe for the pickings! Prada’s gradual hued Ombre bags, Armani’s wedges, Chanel 2.55 etc, have been copied wholesale (with the exception of the labels) and displayed proudly in their stores.

Prada Ombre Patent Tote

Marni Wedges

Some may argue that C&K did not pass off the designs as Prada, Armani or Chanel, and not selling counterfeit goods. Yes, that I agree. But which is worse, really? Making, selling or buying counterfeit goods; or passing off others’ designs as YOUR OWN? Does sticking their C&K label on other’s designs make it any better? The worst is that they take a perfectly gorgeous design and ruin it with their desecration of an inferior and cheap looking copy.

Frankly, I feel rather disgusted. Is there like, not one talented design person on the C&K design team?

And please, not the same tired unreasonable argument about designer goods being priced so high and so many people not being afford them, so it is perfectly reasonable for copies to be made and sold at a much cheaper price.

There is something called creative licence. If I cannot afford something, then so be it that I cannot afford it. Things like a crocodile Hermes, a diamond Vertu, a yacht etc. I don’t think I can ever afford these in my lifetime and even if I could, I don’t know if I can bear to part with so much money for a mere luxury item. I thin there is no shame in not being able to afford something. The shame is, trying to pass off as someone that you are not.

And moreover, there are a million stylish things out there that are desirable and affordable. Vintage, indie designers, classic chic, you name it. No need to hanker after a It copy item.

*Disclaimer: This is merely my humble opinion. If you adore or love C&K and their copied designs, please be my guest. After all, one woman’s meat could be another woman’s poison. I have no wish of shoving my opinions down your throat or off your feet, for that matter.

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