JUNE HAUL: Net-A-Porter, Penhaligon’s, Luxola, Lovisa, Fabriek

Dress, smell – and most importantly – spend well during the End of Season Sales
…despite the recent #SGhaze.

I want June – minus its ridiculous haze – to never end. If I have to describe it in one word, it would be ‘wise’- both in terms of quality time spent with my favourite people, and money spent of the much needed mid-year retail therapy. While every shop in Orchard Road is literally smacking the neonest (if it’s a legit word), biggest, boldest S-A-L-E banners in our faces, heed them as a warning for your impulsive desires…

“I think buying fashion must be a treat.” Well said, Dries van Noten.
Shopping malls and internet are the battlefield, and our only weapon is self-control. I would say ‘sale shopping’ is challenging in it’s own league, most of the time one may find her judgement trivialised by numbers rather than design, fit, workmanship, or other factors as superficial as labels or…hipster creds? Numbers as in price tag and sizes – which I would like to shamefully admit that I bought a dress couple sizes too small just to round up my total receipt amount. Weight-loss motivation, I thought, and guess what? I never got to fit in it. Do we really need that collarless linen caftan, which would probably look mega chic for an upcoming beach vacation, in different colours, buttons, stripes, and left-over sizes just because they are going three for XX Dollars? Probably not. This is a common yet absolutely destructive self-sabotage.  not only fiscal-wise but also – if you must survive with limited living space like me – the efficacy of your (supposedly) well-edited wardrobe.

In a city landscape reminiscent of a Silent Hill scenario, no one in her right mind would go out for a casual shopping spree in Orchard. Hazardous weather aside, online shopping remains as my top choice: fast, convenient, and dangerously addictive. To me it is retail therapy in the truest sense; shopping from the comfort of my bed is definitely a restorative process. First up on my list is Net-A-Porter, where the prices are steep, but fear not, the sales are forgiving. Good for me, bad for the bank account nonetheless. After months of hunting the perfect shoes to match my white trousers, I quickly checked out the hi-shine GIAMBATTISTA VALLI mirrored leather and satin slingbacks – which my dad made a confirming ‘superhero shoes’ comment on. Part futuristic, part old Hollywood glamour, and all mine. Now they’re further reduced for 70% off by the way! I am sending back two other items from this parcel for size exchange at the moment (I blame the recent bloatedness and PMS) therefore I would have to postpone their feature here. Keep guessing!

ACNE distressed denim jacket replica from Fabriek. I don’t mind buying decent replicas for pre-torn designs; if I were to pay the full designer pricetag, of course I would expect the luxury of wearing it to death myself. Worn over a ZARA frill-hem skirt and Motel printed tee from VICTORIA JOMO. On my feet, the street-style approved CHEAP MONDAY Strawberry Mirror Cube Pumps that I acquired from a friend since she ordered the wrong size online, which is fortuitously my size! They’re sold out everywhere, by the way… Talk about luck!

As you all may have read earlier this month, I visited Penhaligon’s at Marina Bay Sands to finally take my trophy fragrance home: Opus 1870. Read more about my latest fragrance profiling appointment HERE.

Apart from myself, my bedroom shall maintain its impeccable reputation of smelling good no matter rain or haze. This time I have THIS WORKS: Black Spice and Cedar Candle from LUXOLA’s big sale to thank. I have been all about woody scents ever since I converted to Penhaligon’s perfumes, but looking for its votive counterpart is no easy feat – most smell too smoky or heady –  but this one has that perfect mellow sweetness to it. Talking about LUXOLA, my favourite thing to do is actually write product reviews for their website. They should pay me for that, you said? Guess what… they do, by giving store credits! So why don’t you grab and review a candle or two, too.

Leaf Chandelier Earring at LOVISA. It is going for a nearly impossible $5, since I remember buying a pair of less elaborate sparklers there for more than $30. A versatile corona civica leaf pattern, fully encrusted with faceted crystals, I have worn this out with a black lace sheath for work and with a knitted sweater for some random weekend. This one is such a great steal.

What are your best buys this GSS?
Until next time!