patience...

I admit it. Since my window shopping (online) post, I have been checking out the http://theoutnet.com/ website frequently, hoping to see again the items I had missed out on purchasing. I was never quite able to forget the Vanessa Bruno or the Marc Jacobs bags I saw back then.

The Outnet did not let me down. One day, the Vanessa Bruno athe leather tote I had my eye on became available for sale... but only in the medium size. What to do? Out came my ruler, comparing the measurements described on the website against an existing bag I had. It seemed the medium sized tote would be more wearable on a daily basis. i.e. it wouldn't look like I could acutally fit the kitchen sink in it.

Feeling the time pressure (as items on The Outnet get purchased in a ridculously efficient manner), I put the tote in my online shopping bag as fast as I could. Clicking through the various pages to buy the bag, I finally reached the point where all I had to do was wait for it to be delivered. I just hoped that I had entered all my details into the ordering forms correctly!

Now having received the bag, I am thankful that I didn't buy the oversized version. I think it would have been too large as a day bag. I guess it was described as a weekend bag for a reason!

Finally, here's a visual of my new bag.

the amateur photographer

Being an amateur photographer, I've found that it's always nice when people compliment my photos. Definitely gives that little buzz of happiness!

"like a pretty woman" by Yumie Kazama

On one of my trips to Kinokuniya (the book store referred to by many of us as "kino") to buy a "girl's style" magazine, I came across a book called "like a pretty woman" by Yumie Kazama.

As I flipped through the book, I found that it was full of photos of Yumie-san in her fabulous outfits. The book opens with shots of her in France. The ones that caught my attention were of her at Lyon train station wrapped up in a dark blue shawl with a hint of the white shirt and navy and pink polka dot scarf she was wearing underneath. Complementing her outfit were long brown suede boots, Louis Vuitton hand-carry luggage and an oversized brown leather shoulder bag. Needless to say, I kept on flipping through that book.

Yumie shares on "How to be a Lady". Here, there are photos about adopting Jackie (Kennedy)'s style,  the "Petite Jacket" and "Rain Boots" amongst many other aspects on "how to be a lady" through your outfits. As I continue through the book, it turns out Yumie is a stylist. Unfortunately, with my very limited Japanese I could not read a lot of the narrative running throughout the book. However, I was thankful for the sprinkling of English here-and-there which allowed me to at least find out about the background of the author.

Before I knew it, I was already at the counter paying for the book!

Having looked through the book many times now, I'd have to say that my favourite section is where Yumie records her outfits on 365 days. The photos were taken from February 2004 to October 2009.

How it's possible for someone to own so many clothes is a little beyond me. Regardless, the shots have been great in giving me ideas on how to pull outfits together. Outfits that have spanned a 5 year period and still look stylish today... that's something to aspire to.

http://sblog.gw.tv/yumie/

http://amazon.co.jp/

http://books.rakuten.co.jp/

"girl's style"

One of the things I've always loved about the hair salon I go to is the availability of Japanese magazines. As silly as this sounds, I always get excited when I have to wait (whether it be for my hairdresser or during a perm) and I have have to entertain myself with the stack of Japanese magazines they leave by my side. This is probably one of the only times I'm happy to wait for something.

Although I do know a little Japanese, I am far from being able to understand everything that is written in the Japanese magazines provided to me. However, they say "a picture paints a thousand words" and the images projected in those magazines have given me ideas on how I should be using items in my wardrobe, or clothing and accessories I've seen in those magazines have made their way onto my mental shopping list.

It was during one of my visits to this Japanese hair salon that I discovered "girl's style". I thought to myself: this is the magazine perfect for fashion lovers that don't know much (or any) Japanese.

"Girl's style" contains image after image of hit Japanese fashion items for that season. There are also pictures of complete outfits along with some street photography to give you ideas on how people are wearing the latest trends. Be it gumboots, leather jackets or boyfriends jeans folded to just above the ankle... I feel I've got a pretty good idea on how to work these items into my outfits, thanks to "girl's style".

http://www.kansai-girlsstyle.net/

o easter egg

Easter rolled around, and in keeping with a similar theme to the Christmas tree, Ferrero Rocher decorated the shopping centre with a large Easter egg. Once again, very classy. However, just a notch below the Christmas tree from before in my opinion. Nonetheless, still a delightful sight to shoppers like me!