My Dubai Shopping Spree

First of all, imagine and feel the softest cashmere scarf  on your hand. Gentle as a baby's butt, tie-dyed in blue and camel, tiny fringes on the edge, at 75% less, and by Bottega Veneta. Perfect.Wrap it around your neck.Excited?Decided to buy it yet? YES. Now remove it, and,it, RIPPED. That's what happened yesterday after trying it on with that Viktor & Rolf tee with its price tag outside and the scarf accidentally caught by it. Well, I'm not buying anything with damage although my fault.I'm sorry Bloomingdales.:)

So I was in Dubai yesterday alone after my supposed to be companion, a.k.a Wilma Tunacao(lol), left me hanging and without a choice to scout for designer bargains during this 1-month long sales season. Bloomingdales, Harvey Nichols, SAKS, and SAKS outlet were my where-to-gos but my feet suddenly, for no reason hurt.And these department stores are in 4 different locations/malls.

First stop, Dubai Mall. Its Fashion Avenue is one of the best in town. Designer labels from Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Hermes, Chanel, Kenzo, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and so many others are lined up in that one long fashion street with partial carpet floors and white paper butteflies and crystals hanging above you. But the stocks they sell here are just boring. What's the use of a Givenchy store where only Nightingales and some shirts and jackets that didn't even appear on the runway are sold? Lanvin, all suits and cuff links.McQueen, that sandals from spring 2010 SHOULD BE AT 70% DISCOUNT AND NOT STILL AT FULL PRICE. Burberry, full of checks. Gucci, everything G's. Dolce & Gabanna, wrinkled shirts on display.Where is the steamer?

 Ignore my complaints after all I'm not a huge customer and certainly I'm too poor to afford these labels. I mean, " Why shop at these places when you only have this much in your ATM?",LOL. I guess that's why that Russian sales staff was that bitchy at me when I asked her to unfold that check shirt at Givenchy and told me "Oh, it's not your size". Like it was her kind version of "You don't have money to buy this, so put it back and go out." hahaha.

And the answer to my prayer was Bloomingdales.3 floors of designer filled department store at everything from 50-70 off and an extra 5% at the counter. Browse, browse, browse. Fit, fit, fit, paid and left for Harvey Nichols at Mall of the Emirates where I was too late as the stocks were the ones I didn't like. I was eyeing on that Balenciaga blue leather jacket,but price it at 3,000 plus dirhams(and that's 70 off) and the best thing I can do is return it back on the rack.

Returned back to Bloomingdales to splurge more. I can't go to SAKS as my right foot was killing me big this time. Fitted again 4 shirts, I chose one. Tried some Pierre Hardy's, Balenciaga and McQueen Hi-tops, and the YSL sandals,my eye-candy of the moment. It was 75 off. I made a deal with myself then.Lose the shirt and you can buy the sandals. You can not have both. You can not afford it. Which I agreed. I like battling and having discussions with the other me. Counter time."That would be x,xxx, sir."

"What? I thought it was 70 + 5 % off?"
"Yes,it is. Its original price is x,xxx."
"No, it should only be about xxx."
Calculator,calculator and I was right. Don't underestimate me when computing designer discounts.I'm an expert.:). Turned out it was only at 65.:(. And I can't afford it anymore. That extra xxx is way too expensive for me.That's the reason why I threw shirt in the first place because I'am not paying 4 digits,and now they charge me that?No.
.
So I picked the shirt back only to find out at home I got the wrong size(XL).Looks like karma is really digital. The Bottega Veneta scarf had its revenge.

At the Dubai bus station.The LINE WAS SO LONG. And they don't have a system. After 1 hour of transferring and running thrice for the wrong bus queue and 5 more double decker buses,  heading to Abu Dhabi at last. Take note, I was in a McQueen-Paul&Joe-Ann D.-Margiela combo. Shouldn't I be waving for a cab in this outfit? It will be 400 dirhams so I better join the rest of the Bangalis, Pakistanis, and Indians. hehe.

Anyway, that's quite a long story,isn't it? I hope I didn't bore you. I was happy to go home carrying 3 t-shirts with me. Here are they.Anyone can guess what the labels are.:D

Givenchy Haute Couture spring 2011

I have always been a faithful fan of Riccardo Tisci's work for Givenchy since his appointment. I can still remember his shaky beginnings at the brand until he was accepted fully by the press. 

Now for this collection.Art.Would you like to buy a piece of clothing you only want to look at? His work for the past 2 seasons for couture has been this.10 looks in a presentation.Although it looked a bit a continuation from fall,the clothes this season feel light with a little play in color, focused on the cuts and patterns, and more structured. One piece here required a 2,000 working hours to create the pattern alone.And another 4,000 hours for it to be assembled as a dress.That is dressmaking to the extreme. How I wish I had an invite for this affair so I can closely view each of these dress' details.

The looks with the birds on them are the most striking.Like each feather was carefully selected and sewn but these were just patterns carefully and delicately mixed up to cover the body from the transparent organza(?) as a base.The back is more amazing.In contrast to the softness of details in front,a bold structured back in 3D with colors from orange,to green,yellow and hot pink gave the clothes its backbone.

If I were a rich man,I prefer this than a Picasso hanging on my wall.

the hats are by PhilipTreacy.

 

the back

Exclusive to only one piece per look.Order now.(and I wrote that like these things cost the same as a BigMac.:) 

Chanel Haute Couture spring 2011

Where is the stage? My first question after seeing this collection.Chanel, that is CHANEL, always has staged its shows at grand proportion sets.For spring 2011, an Airbus A380 could  literally land on its runway that if I were Freja Beja, I would charge Karl double my fee. This time for haute couture, the runway looked simple and only, I think, about 10% of its usual audience count were invited.

Is this haute couture? My second question.The clothes at first look would tell you they're just from ready-to-wear,but this being Chanel, clothes should be seen at a microscopic level.Aha, no wonder why this show is that intimate.Details.After all, who can see them when they are so minute and the set is visible from outer space.Like what Tim Blanks wrote on his review, 10 million beads were used to create this collection.10 million beads.I don't know if this were a joke but that seamstress better have her eyes checked.Now.

The collection started in  black and white and  lots of pinks came after.A Chanel formula.Models in sequinned pants and what's missing?Heels.What I love about the clothes here is they're wearable.  Another is its appeal to a much younger demographic. Tweed jacket over jeans or a flowing skirt. This styling just says that.

Stella Tenant opened the show







look at the details on this tweed.











My favorite look on Magdalena











10 million beads.

Worst Men's Fall Collections 2011-2012

I hate that labels on my worst list are the ones i love.To start with.....

Prada
Now, this brand always makes me glued on my seat every fashion week.From pajamas, to skirts,to scrub suits, to Flash-dance dressing, i loved it;but this time it looked like Pringle of Scotland gone bad.And after this collection, I wonder how her women's fall collection will be.

Comme des Garcons
I have no idea how this collection will translate into retail. I don't think the looks are wearable AT ALL. I' am a huge, huge  fan of Rei's work and i know she is that fashion-forward designer,but ok I' ll stop.Just look at the photos.

Thom Browne
I was glad Thom Browne moved to Paris from New York to show his collections because this is where he should be.This collection turned bad,in my opinion, because it was styled badly.The glasses,the make up,and were those hats?
The individual pieces are great, I love the checks but there are just pieces here that is hard,very hard to ignore.

 Roberto Cavalli
You know what they say "One spoiled apple destroyed the whole batch?".This collection is an example.Perfectly tailored coat--but look down.Yes,the pants killed this look-in a bad way.

Next time it will  be Paris' Haute Couture...stay tuned.PLEAAAASSSSSEEEEEEE.

men's fashion week fall 2011-2012(my favorites)

Spring collections haven't arrived yet in stores but Milan and Paris showcased men's fall for 2011-2012 this past 2 weeks.This season, some of my favorite designers like Kris van Assche,Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens failed me or at least i didn't like the collection at all. In Kris' case,especially for Dior Homme,i thought it was a bit redundant. There are also designers this time that I used to hate but topped my list like Junya Watanabe.Anyway here are my choice looks for this fall.

Raf Simons:

Raf is my favorite menswear designer.He is always fashion forward, his tailoring is brilliant, and every season is a complete surprise.This show opener is one of the best looks out there, although this is too editorial. I don't know if the pants are wearable or should stay on the runway.

this next look is too striking and dramatic, I mean, what man wears a red oversized coat?Looks like Little Red Riding Hood's got a competition here.

Yves Saint Laurent

If I were a rich man and I need a suit that would fit me well,at the same time, would be comfortable wearing it then I'd go for YSL this season.Gone are the baggy pants Stefano Pilati make for the past years, instead ,today he focused on a much slimmer silhoutte that didn't remind me of he wearing his collection at the end.

and the big coat.

Lanvin

Lanvin is by far next to Alexis Mabille for making clothes that have feminine touches.Today these 2 labels, thank God, almost did not remind me of that anymore.I actually don't know what to say about this collection.It's just i like it...a lot.The black coat slim pants combo.

and this look.

Marni

Marni is one of my really favorite labels.What Consuelo Castiliogni makes for her brand are adorable clothes that are minimal,relaxed, yet bold.I personally don't think will fit in her clothes as they are that difficult to play with something old from your closet.

Dries Van Noten
Season after season, Dries ALWAYS delivers one of the best collections.When you look for something khaki,blue,white,and black combination, he is always the man to go to.The patchwork pants,the oversized white shirt,and the full pants are my favorite items. ...

 AND THIS JACKET....

 Balmain

I wanted to post all pictures from this collection but it will be toooooo long.So I just picked 4 of my favorites . This has been Christophe Decarnin's formula for his looks: a high cut boot,slim pants,a scarf,belt,shirt,and the to die for jacket.

 and here are more looks from other collection that i love
Acne -the cardigan

Alexander Mcqueen-the little drummer boy jacket

 Bottega Veneta-the blue pop color against the black look is very cool

 Givenchy-Riccardo Tisci didn't thrill me this much this season.But i still love the collection-and the thigh high sneakers.

 Hermes

 Junya Watanabe-i just don't get his looks before but now,ok,got the message loud and clear.

 Salvatore Ferragamo-the collection started eh.The looks opened in beige and whites to browns and to this goldmine of really fantastic blues.

That's it.Next time I will be posting the Top of the Flops collection, and Prada is going to be on that list.lol