Welcome to the Jungle

scarf: Louis Vuitton, lace top: Wilfred jacket & shoes: Zara

I'm pleased to say that the leather/colour on this B-baby has been holding up! The cropped jacket with shoulder pads was another steal from Zara. I urge all who haven't visited a store yet, to go! The prices are so much better than their Boxing Day markdowns.

Beware of Prada

top: Zara, pants: silence & noise, shoes: le chateau, clutch: Prada

Speaking volumes, alright. I finally was able to get my Balmain shoulder-like fix, while shopping at Zara. I remember when this top first came out, it retailed for $50.00! I couldn't justify something I didn't need at the time for that price, so I passed on it (a student's got to eat, right?). Good thing too, because I purchased it for $19.95 yesterday! Patience IS a virtue.

My S/S 2008 Prada Nappa leather clutch was also a steal. I found it at Holt's during their summer sale for practically 50% off. I just couldn't pass on it. I love it more everyday.

LOEFFLER RANDALL June Lace Up Bootie

I literally had to do a double-take when I saw these on Revolve for $595.00! They look almost identical to the pair I recently found!

Revolve Clothing is having a promotion going until January 27th. Be their fan on Facebook, and write "I LOVE REVOLVE!" on the wall to receive a 20% off coupon code! Sweet.

running errands

tunic: Wilfred, bag: Louis Vuitton, shoes: thrift

It's beginning to feel a lot like...... spring?!?

I'm not complaining.

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I'm officially out of UBC, and on my way to bigger & better things! Meanwhile, I'm frequenting the local Value Village more these days.







Some of my recent finds are these great leather ankle lace-up boots, and some pendants. The fan actually folds and closes, and the leaf pendant reminded me of the local line at Blue Ruby that molds real leaves into gold-plated jewelry.

meOW

blazer: Thrift > DIY, shirt: Wilfred, shoes: Thrift

Feeling ......... let's just say I was rushed for this photo.

The makeshift vest I'm wearing is a 'special' piece. I'm filing this under DIY, as it became just that. Not intentionally. It was actually a broad-shouldered (a la '90s) blazer that may have had equally unflattering pants to go with it, in another life. After wearing it maybe once because I was so self-conscious of the awful-fitting shoulder pads, I decided to try and alter it. I am an amateur-- at best-- with the sewing machine, so I try to avoid using it as much as possible. At first, thinking maybe by removing the built-in shoulder pads altogether, I may be able to salvage it as a blazer. This was not the case, and with my results I wanted to just trash the thing. Then, weeks later, I came across a photo of Nicole Richie with Mary Kate in a silk vest dress (le sigh, couldn't find a better photo of it!).

This concept inspired me to turn my hideous mess of a blazer into a vest, and moments later I was cutting off the sleeves, and sewing (by hand, obvi) the lining and the unfinished hem toghether.

I wish I could show off my sewing job, but black on black is impossible to capture on my camera!

The finished product

Although, I've been wearing the bag in past photos, I thought it might make a difference to show just how amazing the leather looks up close! These are photos taken post-conditioning process. I think it really made a difference in terms of softening out the leather, as it was almost 'sticky' with just the dye alone. All-in-all I'm pretty happy on how it turned out!

I started this thread on The Purse Forum, where you can follow my progress as well as can see the extra input and support from the great ladies of tPF! You can view threads on practically any high-end purse label, and learn EVERYTHING there is to know about bags.

Balenciaga '07 Work Restoration Project - Part II

Stage 2 (finally!) with photos. I have to say, once all the old dye was stripped off, the blotchy leather reminded me of Alexander Wang's '09 Brenda bags. Call me crazy, but I actually thought it didn't look that bad..... Nonetheless, I stuck to my plans to go ahead with the dyeing process. Oh yeah, and that's masking tape on the hardware because I could not imagine the headache it would have been removing dye from the perforated studs!

A public affair

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blazer: thrift, dress: Yumi Kim, bag: Balenciaga, shoes: Zara 

Ahh! I've been away from the blog for a few days. Dropping out of university amidst working full-time could have something to do with it.... 

These are some photos of my New Years with the infamous bag in its finished stage (I will still post photos of the bag in its in-between-stage of which the Part II of my Restoration post will consist of!). 

Also, hats off to my sister for being a great make-shift personal photographer! :)