Checking out the H&M x Margiela collection...

I dropped by H&M over the weekend just to see if there were still any remaining H&M x Margiela pieces.

There were still a LOT!

I was really surprised to see that the collab wasn't that big of a hit as I thought it would be. This is Singapore! After the Marni and Versace collabs, I actually thought that everything will be sold out on the day the collab pieces went on sale.

But three days later after the Margielas went on sale and still, there were so many pieces available.

I was talking to my friend Jane about it and she felt that it was because of the price point. I have to agree. Compared to the previous collabs, the Margiela collection is probably the most expensive one (I think). Most of the pieces were SGD100/200 over.

Another reason could be the sizing. The women's dresses were obviously ang moh sizing. Asian women would probably need to chop off a few inches of the hem.

Or could it be because Margiela, like Comme des Garcons, is more of a cult brand? It has its own set of followers and the pieces are, not to sound snobbish, not really for everyone.
br/> PG Boy, for example, does not know Margiela. He only found out about him because of me. LOL! Although PG Boy is an exception. When we first met, he told me he actually thought Prada was a man. I almost fainted. Kidding. Hehe!

Going back, I did like the bags!!! Ugh, if I didn't have a moratorium on myself, I would've gotten the upside down bag as well as the tote bag. The pieces are in real leather so I think the prices were acceptable. Hehe!

Anyway, I only wanted this one bracelet but as I expected, it was already sold out. Boo!

As a souvenir, I just got the magnets. Haha! I also bought a set for my friend, I-van, because I know he will love it!

So far, H&M has been good in selecting its guest designers. I wonder who the next collab will be with.

I have yet to experience the queuing up overnight just to be ahead of everyone else. Haha! That should be fun!

The Club 21 Bazaar experience...

As mentioned in a recent post, I went to the legendary Club 21 Bazaar over the weekend hoping to score some good buys.

And score good buys I did as I walked away from the bazaar.

The bazaar opened to the public last Friday. Club 21 members and Citibank cardholders had a preview the day before. Mon and I were initially tempted to take a leave for the preview, but decided against it. Haha! Tempting as it was, I decided not to give in to temptation and went to work.

On Friday, I left home at 8 so that I can reach the venue by 9. The bazaar was opening at 10, but I was expecting there would be a queue.

Crazy as it may sound, I was feeling very excited as I walked from Promenade station to the F1 Pit building. I dunno. I guess I was just really excited by the whole thing because it was my first time to attend the legendary event.

When I reached the venue, there were already about 4 people in queue. I was so glad I decided to come early because more people started arriving as 10AM neared.

There were two queues though - one for Club 21 members and another for the public.

Once the clock struck 10, the doors opened and the Club 21 members were let in first. Boo! Haha! After a few minutes, they let the rest of us in.

Upon entry, a Club 21 staff was handing out huge plastic bags to shoppers. I got one and immediately headed in.

The bazaar occupied two main halls. Club 21 was efficient enough to publish a layout of the bazaar so I already knew where I wanted to go. DKNY was at this area. CK was at that area. D&G, Lanvin and CDG were on the other side. Club 21 Men were next to it, and so on.

I'm really no newbie to these kinds of sales. I already have a strategy of my own. Dress comfortably. Dun bring a bag (which was a great idea because they asked shoppers with bags to deposit the bags. Precious shopping time taken away! LOL!)  Collect and select. When you see something that you like, grab it immediately and decide later if you really want it. Otherwise, someone else might snap it and then how, you cry, ah?

Also, I already had in mind a list of things I was hoping to get and a list of brands I wanted to check out. This was important especially because I had limited time.

After going through the pieces I was looking for, I went around just to check the other items on sale. I am still amazed at how low the prices were. Pieces of clothing that were originally thousands of dollars are now down to a few hundred bucks. Those that sold for hundred of bucks were down to less than a hundred. It was really one of the rare opportunities to snatch a designer item.

By the time I decided to hit the cashier, the crowd has increased and it was already a circus. It was quite amusing to watch actually. All around, there was so much action going on. People were digging through piles of clothing and going through racks and racks of designerwear. Those who were early at the bazaar were at their own little corners sorting the items in their shopping bags. The kids, I have no idea why some adults brought their kids, were all sitting on the floor along the hallway playing with their iPads and iPhones while their parents shopped. Haha!

I was going to meet PG Boy at Plaza Sing by 1PM so I had to stick to my schedule. This was great because I was able to plan my trip to the bazaar quite efficiently. It was almost 12 noon when I paid for my items and luckily, the queue to the cashier was not yet long. I managed to chat a bit with the friendly lady behind the register telling her how awesome the sale was.

When I reached home in the afternoon, I proudly showed PG Boy my loot from the sale. He found it amusing how crazy I can get over a sale. (See! Not every homo is into designer stuff. LOL!) I surprised with a nice collared Calvin Klein shirt and a bunch of DKNY innerwear. Hehe!

Hmm, my fave pieces that I got were two Junya Watanabe for Comme des Garcon tees. They were the last pieces. And I was very lucky that they were in medium and that I was quick enough to spot and snap up the items before the guys beside me did. The original price of the tees were SGD260 each. (I would never fork out that amount for a tee! LOL!) I got each for just SGD50.

I was also happy that I did not overspend. I was able to stick to the budget I had in mind. I also like to think that I did save a lot because on an ordinary day, the items that I got would have already cost a thousand over. No way will I spend like that for shopping (not just yet. LOL!).

So, yay Club 21! I think for next year, I will not shop the entire year and just save and wait for the bazaar. Once the bazaar comes, break open the bazaar fund and shop. LOL!

I love you, Club 21...

The Club 21 Bazaar experience was awesome!!!

It really is such a super mega sale! If you're a fan of all these designer stuff, then this is one sale you dun want to miss.

Just look at the photo above. A Maison Martin Margiela tee originally selling for SGD420 is now down to SGD80(!!!)

Though very tempting and a rare opportunity to wear a Margiela, I still didn't get the shirt. I just couldn't get myself to still spend 80 bucks for a tee. Haha! I know, I know. But seriously, I can be stingy when it comes to spending for myself. If it were a birthday pressie, then I would have prolly gotten it.

Still, I'm very happy with the buys I got from the sale.

Really glad I woke up early for it. It was sooo worth it.

Club 21 bazaar this weekend....

Aside from the public holiday today, the other major event happening this weekend is the Club21 Bazaar.

Pinas has Store Specialists, Inc. (SSI). Singapore has Club 21 (except that most brands Club21 have are really super high end - Balenciaga, Comme des Garcons, Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, and so on.)

According to some friends, the Club21 bazaar is legendary. It's not difficult to understand why.

The brands that were mentioned earlier. Up to 85% off. Seriously, it's crazy. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the awesome experience I had when I stumbled upon the CDG tees at Ion. Haha!

Well,  I expect today to be twice, thrice, four times the awesomeness! Haha! It's prolly the mother of all luxury good sales in the island. Haha!

So today, I woke up very early. I will leave the house very early. Just so I can reach the venue - the F1 Pit building - very early.

The bazaar actually started yesterday. It was a preview for Club 21 members and Citibank card members. Let's see how this will go. Woot! Hopefully there will still be goodies left for us mere mortals.

A&F boys are waiting for you...

Several weeks ago, this wall that boarded the A&F store was in the news because some conservative was scadalized by the image.

Sheesh, one objects to this while no one objects to the scantily clad images of women for lingerie ads? What's up with that?

Anyway, the board, if I remember correctly, was taken down.

A couple of days ago, A&F made it to the news again when thirty (!!!) shirtless men stood outside the store to be greeters.

They were there on the days leading up to the event.

Haha! I'm not sure if this is what they do in all A&F stores that are about to open.

But whoever thought of this idea, good job! Such a great way to get back at those narrow-minded individuals. Hehe!

New pair of running shoes... bday gift to self...

Over dinner last night, running buddy and good friend Ian told us about the Royal Sports House warehouse sale happening today.

I've been looking for a new good pair of running shoes to replace my Adidas pair, but I haven't been able to allot a budget for it. I found a brand new pair of New Balance being sold online, but I wasn't too keen on the design. It looked exactly like the ones issued to guys who undergo NS here.

Despite having only four hours of sleep, I managed to get up at 8AM and meet Ian along Macpherson Road by 9:30AM. The sale begins at 10AM at Wisma Gulab and we wanted to be there early. It was actually a good idea. By the time Ian and I made it to the venue, there was already a queue outside.

The gates opened 15 minutes before 10, but we still had to wait just outside the tents for the clock to strike ten. There was already a crowd all eager and hungry for a good buy. Ian and I had to come up with a strategy to make sure we get what we wanted. Haha! I could feel the pressure, the intensity and the competition. Haha!

As soon as the RSH people opened the sale, people just dashed to the goods. I saw the area for New Balance, and went straight there. Luckily, all the others took their time at the brands that were near the entrance.

I saw a few pairs of NB that I wanted. A few minutes later, Ian showed up and I consulted him which one to get. He pointed a specific pair. I asked for a size 10, and I think it was meant for me because I was able to get a pair. Woohoo!

I held on to the box, as if I were carrying an expensive piece of jewelry. Haha! I went around to check the other brands to see if there were any good buys. I wanted to get some Vans but ended up not getting the pair. I told myself I must stick to my budget. Haha!

An hour later, Ian and I met up again and sorted our goods. I ended up just sticking to the pair of shoes. He ended up buying just two pair of shoes.

Still, the goodies we got were a steal. Ian was able to get two pairs of Lacoste for below $100. The pair I got was $49. It was already a very good deal because I saw that the original price was $235!!! Had I been at the mall, I would think twice, thrice before I really shell out that kind of money for a pair of shoes.

It was a very good trip to the warehouse sale. So thankful Ian invited me. So glad I found a pair. It's my birthday gift to myself already.

Woohoo!