the year in review - shoes...

in a little self indulgent look back at the shoes i've acquired in 2009. i think i've gone a bit overboard, but here they are in chronological order...

back in jan 09, i bought my favourite shoes so far: the hermes piccadilly. you might think i am crazy, but i still haven't worn it yet. i will, soon. yes, my favourite out of all the shoes.

two pairs of ymc canvas shoes

though the comme des garcons x h&m collaboration happened in 2008, i got this pair in february 09, tucked in one corner, further reduced to... £10. i had to right?

bottega veneta penny loafers

h&m perforated leather and canvas shoes

opening ceremony boots

zara blue suede shoes

matthew williamson x h&m green patent leather sneakers

h&m deck shoes

prada slip ons


massimo dutti green driving shoes

dries van noten lace ups

mr hare "thompson" boots


alejandro ingelmo "galaxy" trainers

gucci beige suede driving shoes

h&m blue satin shoes

asos perforated leather lace ups

b store "sidney" brogues

jimmy choo x h&m black suede boots

gucci horsebit boots

j.lindeberg suede and leather lace ups


salvatore ferragamo velvet slip ons

23 pairs i've acquired. i feel dirty even just typing that. so for 2010, i am definitely buying less, yes less.

it's a shoe-in for 2010. happy new year.




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gieves & hawkes window

really liking the window display at savile row tailors gieves & hawkes.

l00o00ve





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brioni wool coat with mink collar

created from a rare species of mink, brioni’s sheer mink lined coat with distinctive stardust collar is renowned for its coveted ‘frost effect’ fur, which is completely natural and varies between each animal and each seasonal mutation. the outside of the coat is made from a superior ‘super 200’s wool’, again sourced from a very rare batch of wool containing 13 microns that combine with the mink to produce the softest coat for effortless winter luxury.

brioni's tagline is "to be one of a kind". they certainly did. the coat is available exclusively at harrods in the UK, retailing for £18,000.

getting hotelier andre balázs to star in their campaign is a great move, it's believable. and according to the financial times, a certain goldman sachs executive has one. i am so staking outside goldmans to take a pic of the exquisite coat and the proud owner.

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hermès to launch "上下" in china

it's been reported two weeks back that hermès will launch a new brand called "shang xia 上下" in china. the economy is booming over there with much new found wealth. however rather than tailoring some products for the chinese market, hermès chose to set up a completely new brand.

interestingly, if we add the words "shang 上" and "xia 下" together, it becomes "ka 卡", meaning 'card'. getting them to swipe the cards?

if we look at it as a diffusion brand, then the idea isn't new: black barrett, burberry black etc for the japanese market and not (widely) available elsewhere. for "shang xia", why would hermès not name it something else to ring in the association? probably because it doesn't want to, as "shang xia" will be a cheaper line.

smart. so on one side of the world they can grow their business making it an aspirational brand. while on the other side not losing the prestige as "shang xia" is a separate business venture, not to be seen as a diffusion line. if not, i can't think of a reason why this venture is rather hush hush and wasn't announced on a much grander scale.

looking at above results for first 9 months of 2009, the asia pacific region came top of the class. like kids with the best grades, they deserve more investment.

"shang xia" will include ready-to-wear and decorative arts inspired by chinese culture and traditions of craftsmanship. these are to be made using chinese raw materials and artisanal know-how. as mentioned by hermès to a french newspaper, the objective of this move is to offer cheaper products, as well as capitalising on the growth of the luxury market in the country in 2010. the new brand will be tailored for the chinese market where hermès lags behind its competitors.

if we interpret the above as hermès launching a new (diffusion) label to be made in china to keep costs and retail prices down, how will it go down?

.: hermes fall winter 2009 / reuters :.

to be very very crude, hermès lags behind in the chinese market because of it's pricing, and the distinct lack of branding/monograms on their products. the exact reasons why fans love it in the first place. hence to a certain extent i am intrigued to see how products from "shang xia" will turn out. products are planned for spring 2010 release.

i think "shang xia" is a smart move but it has to be executed correctly and not just a half baked attempt to chase a new market. the downside is that they will lose their audiences in other regions. two years ago investors said russia is where the wealth is at, then it's dubai to be the next mirage. i hope china proves different.



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bargain hunting

it's boxing day, the crowds are out in full force in search of bargains. after last year's exceptionally deep discounts, shoppers are expecting a repeat. limited transport services on boxing day doesn't deter, just look at the queues outside selfridges, way before starting time of 09:30am.

crowd control in the wee hours of the morning. i always avoid selfridges during sale times. it's prominent and central location makes it a popular stop for bargain hunters. law of economics tells me demand far outstrips supply. i do come out empty handed most times.

truth is, retailers are a lot smarter this year. the deep discounting in 2008 was quite a one off. the economy went into free fall, retailers were left with excess stock which they couldn't foresee and hence the crazy sales, even before christmas. stock buyers were a lot more cautious this year. they bought less stock, and mild discounting started way back in november. several shops, online and offline, offered 10-20% discount during "shoppers' evenings". come first week december, the shops offered 30% discount to entice christmas shoppers.

so with less stock to begin with, and gradual discounting starting from november, there really isn't much left for the half price sales. i predict that retailers' margins will be much healthier this year. not in 2007 levels, but much better than 2008.

with the fall winter 2010 menswear shows coming up in january 2010, i wonder what the buyers will be looking for. the economy should be on a slow but positive recovery. they are looking to buy stock for sale between july to december 2010. i would think they should have a bigger budget than 2009, and would be buying slightly more adventurous pieces. enough of classics, perhaps a return to seeing more exotic skins and materials on the runway. so buying smaller quantities of stock but of higher value.

ok back to the sales: this is the scene inside selfridges. i was there around 12pm and i was rather embarrassed. ok i do avoid selfridges every year during boxing day sales, but i was looking for a ysl leather jacket which i tried at sloane street but they don't have it in my size. silly me really to think i can find it at selfridges.

which leads me to think: what luxury is there? everyone loves a bargain, but when you have to jostle and finger point and raise your temper, it takes the fun out of shopping.

i actually left the sales empty handed. rather than feeling dejected, i actually felt really good, that i was able to walk away. shopping isn't one dimensional and just about the end product, it's also about the overall experience.

so did you guys manage to sniff out any bargains this year?

whoa, they sure did!

source: getty images

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season's greetings

.: smiley the penguin outside harrods :.

merry christmas

xx

source: getty images

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mr hare spring summer 2010 pre order

don't think you will be receiving the christmas presents that you want? how about getting them yourself instead. the fantastic mr hare is back with his second collection, and a few selected styles are available for pre order. my all time favourite is the above tan capote. perfect 10 for 2010.

meanwhile, quite impossibly, a few shoes from his debut collection are now reduced in the sale. i've always loved the fitzgerald, quite a few sizes to choose from too. unsurprisingly, none in my size.

click here to pre-order mr hare's spring summer 2010 or to shop the fall winter sale.



l00o00ve.


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daniel merriweather in dries van noten fall winter 2009

i look back at my previous posts, and do agree that i've been featuring celebs quite often these days. it's not exactly the direction i want to take, but it's the end of the year, things are moving slowly, there's not much news going, and i get easily excited when i see a piece on the red carpet which i recognise. most guys attend such events in a box standard black suit, a patterned bow tie if we are lucky. i thought of giving a bit of recognition and encouragement to those who are slightly adventurous.

still, trashy is not what i want this blog to be. so i'll cut back, fight the unbearable urge to blurt out what people are wearing, and only feature clothes on celebs which hands on heart, i really like, clothes that are interesting and worth a para or two.

i saw pics of daniel merriweather last week at elton john's charity bash, and i just can't recall where i've seen that jacket from. i love that zig zag pattern, but don't really like the rolled up sleeves. i really like that jacket, and i embarked on a mission to track it down.

daniel's jacket is from dries van noten fall winter 2009. it was one of my favourite collections of the season. i love the whole mood and styling, very surprised to not see pieces from this collection on the red carpet more often.

in theory, the zig zag details shouldn't work with the striped shirt, but everything seemed to blend in harmony. i think the precise amount of cuff showing, complimented the stripes in the middle. i really like the jacket and styling on the runway.

the jacket is currently on sale at antonioli.eu for £336. quite naturally, there's none in my size.

ok less celebs posting from now. someone better not turn up in balenciaga tomorrow...

source: getty images

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i waited a year & a half for this

burberry patent toe lace ups. was £275 now £165.
wanted since 21st june 2008

but now none in my size

*heart sinks*



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anthony santos in dolce & gabbana fall winter 2009

i'm in a quilted state of mind these days, must be the sudden drop in temperature in london. i'm not familiar with latin american music, but on saturday, music group "aventura" held a concert in miami. lead singer anthony santos wore one of my favourite pieces from dolce & gabbana's fall winter 2009 collection: the white quilted tuxedo jacket.

it's not about featuring known or unknown celebs, but the focus is on the clothes itself. i thought anthony looked really good in that tux, it fitted him very well. when it comes to quilting, i find that fit is key, we don't want to look like michelin man do we.

on many occasions when i see famous personalities wearing dolce & gabbana, the clothes seem to be wearing them. anthony definitely wore the jacket and not the other way round. am loving the whole look, except for that pocket square which seemed slightly out of place for me.

loving it.

source: getty images

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stepping forward

wwd previewed the latest spring 2010 campaign for lanvin, starring photographers inez van lamsweerde and vinoodh matadin. so photographers are the new actors turned models? vinoodh looked amazing in that shot, why hide behind the camera all these while?

some commented that it was a boring portrait for a campaign, and many preferred the brilliance of the previous fall 09 campaign. i beg to differ.

.: lanvin fall winter 2009 :.

“he’s not our model,” alber elbaz stressed about vinoodh matadin. “we just photographed him in our clothes, and it becomes very believable." and that is so important, to be believable. the previous campaign was amazingly executed, but i really don't like the casting. i don't want to see boys in men's clothes.

vinoodh is a great choice, unexpected but it's a "good" unexpected. i find the styling to be more ysl than lanvin, but then again both should appeal to the same age group.

the married couple joined a growing list of photographers stepping forward for campaigns and editorials:

alexi lubomirski for GQ. alexi started out as an assistant for mario testino, must have picked up a few tips along the way. he's looking dapper in that shot.

one of my favourite photographers, ryan mcginley, who appeared in one of marc jacob's campaigns.

perhaps most shockingly of all: mario sorrenti with kate moss on the cover of purple magazine. with that incredibly toned body, why not?

looking forward to see more of lanvin's spring 2010 campaign. (i know there's another one, but that one is kina scary...)


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