Online Window Shopping For On Sale Dresses

Since I've started my summer job (answering phones,) I've stopped shopping and it's making me feel uninspired and sad. So I went onto a bunch of websites to look for dresses -on sale ones of course, since what's the point of shopping for full-priced items now when there are bargains all around you. Here are the dresses I liked: (I actually visited a few other e-stores but nothing else caught my eye.)

I've been away from London for just over a month and naturally, the thing I miss the most about London is Top Shop. The online sale section on the Top Shop site doesn't really have a great selection of clothes, but I would definitely have tried on these two dresses if I saw them in the shops. I like the modern artistic feeling the graphic print dress (left) by Top Shop Unique gives. As for the black dress (right), it just looks like a no-brainer, basic dress to own and to go out at night -practical right?

Next I went to Anthropologie (found nothing there) and Urban Outfitters. I miss the Urban Outfitters shops in the States SO much -there's such a wider selection of affordable clothes in the States' shops than UK shops. I love this red dress. Yes, I know it's very plain and basic (which is so me,) but think of all the occasions I can wear it to -that's for daytime and night-time. I can wear it to a bar/ clubbing at night or when I feel like being eye-catching during daytime. There's even a wrap just under the bust area to make the dress flattering for most body types.

I like the blue version of this dress (left), but I'm showing both the colours to show how the dress can look different just by tieing or not tieing the string. It'll make a nice casual, very streetwear-feeling type of daytime dress.

And finally, I ended up at my favourite online shop, Shopbop. I've been eyeing these two Rachel Pally since they have just arrived on Shopbop. They're simple without being boring, and it's so easy to just slip on one of them and wear it alone or maybe with a pair of leggings or skinny jeans. Absolutely great for daytime.

As for nightwear, I found these two dresses. There's the 60's styled shift dress by Alicia + Olivia (left) which looks classy (it's black and white and has a modest neckline,) and young (thanks to the bias stripe and short length.) As for the navy dress (right), it's simple and contemporary, sort of a blend of Clavin Klein and 3.1 Phillip Lim, you think? Actually, after staring at it for awhile, it looks like something LC (from the Hills) would wear to events.
Mmm, I do love looking at clothes online and getting inspired... Or maybe I should just stop being lazy and go shopping.

Photo credit: www.topshop.com, www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.shopbop.com

Not So Friendly

I knew a few months ago that when I wrote about recycling bags, I knew it was a hot item. I just didn't understand the extent of it until it came out in Hong Kong and Taiwan last Friday. I guess one just don't feel it until it hits closer to home. I even considered going to the store later on that day to "pick one up." Although knowing Asia, I should have known it wouldn't be so easy to get my hands on this cheap limited edition designer bag. People line up overnight for up to days on the streets if necessary for a pair of sneakers here after all. And I knew that this bag was anticipated by the masses as the Anya Hindmarch PR had done an excellent job here in Asia too and many celebs have been seen sporting this recycling bag as a handbag of sorts bringing them around shopping and to concerts with them. It had become sort of a status symbol to own one of these bags.

So I knew people wanted it, but I just didn't know the extent until the afternoon before the bag was out, when I passed by the department store that sold it and saw a huge bunch of people lined up outside for that bag! And let me tell you, Hong Kong in summer is hot AND extremely humid. We scurry from air conditioned space to another and even have connecting overhead bridges all over the Central area to minimize outside exposure. These people REALLY wanted this bag. Naturally I gracefully bowed out as I don't want it THAT much. Next day, there were news of outraged people who lined up and didn't get the bag and the police had to be called in to disperse the angry mob. The stores selling it (which sold LOTS of other stuff) had to be temporarily closed because of that. But if you thought THAT is extreme over a $15USD bag, in Taiwan blood was shed over it! These bags are now currently being sold on ebay for $240USD! The things people do.

I don't know about Taiwan, but apparently there had been a very exclusive pre-order list that took up most of the quota. Exclusive, because believe me, we already asked if there was a list and was told there wasn't and we should come line up. Lesson of the day- chummy up with the sales people for a limited bag. Did I mention that with all the rage, this bag does not support any charitable causes? For such a quiet tiny store (well the one in HK used to be small and quiet) it has definitely put a big stamp on the fashion community and generated a huge profit margin lately!

I guess this environmentally friendly bag is not quite so friendly after all.

SS07 Last Call: Gladiator-ish Sandals

Gladiator sandals have been 'in' for the past few summers. But it seems like this may be the last summer gladiators are 'in'. I've never been into gladiator sandals -not because I don't like the design, but because I'm only 5'2" and flat sandals are not at all flattering for short people.

However, in my last trip to Top Shop, I got tempted by these silver sandals and finally bought a pair. I've only worn them a few times and I have to say they are pretty perfect for supermarket trips or when I'm really not bothered, just as an alternative to flip-flops.

Just when you thought gladiators sandals had ended last year, Balenciaga extended the trend to this summer with this pair of heavily studded sandals from its SS07 collection.

This sort of T-bar sandals are a big hit this summer. It seems like everyone is wearing them! But if you have wide feel (like me) then you should probably avoid them. (This pair is by Top Shop.)

Patent leather is all the rage this season -there are now even patent leather gladaitor-ish sandals. Not sure I like them though. This pair is by Aldo.

Anthropologie has a lot of gladiator-ish sandals. I love this white pair. It's plain but not boring. On a second though, it sort of looks like the Balenciaga pair without all the studs doesn't it?

Another nice and comfortable-looking pair by Anthropologie.

This kind of sandals feels too bohemian for me. (This pair is from Urban Outfitters.) I like the more city-chic type, like the ones I chose above more.

As a last note, I just wanted to show that gladiator sandals look really terrible with winter clothes. Look at Mischa's outfit on the right -I love her Juicy white coat and skinny jeans combo, but those gladiator sandals really ruined the outfit. But on the left, the gladiators look relatively ok with that ourfit.

So yes, even though gladiator sandals are fading, I'm just discovering how comfortable they are. Oh well. What do you think? So you think the trend of gladiator-ish sandals will end this summer?

Photo credit: http://www.balenciaga.com/, http://www.anthropologie.com/, http://www.aldo.com/, http://www.topshop.com/, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/