Category / Shopping

macbook-marble
By On In Shopping448 Comments

So Thursday evening was pretty interesting, to say the least. I finally made up my mind and decided to go with the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag. What I didn’t know is that it’s very hard to get your hands on one of these bags. What I assumed would be a piece of cake, turned out to be a real test of patience. MG didn’t announce a particular launch time for the apparently, much anticipated restock, so I refreshed every thirty minutes at work (how naive). But when it was time to go home, still no sign of those pretty minimalistic bags. At home I sat down with my laptop and decided to keep an eye on their Instagram for the announcement of the launch. If I was able to get one, great, otherwise, too bad. Better luck next time. But as the day passed, more and more people started to get anxious and turned to the Mansur Gavriel Instagram to express their frustration. Especially when the E-shop went online somewhere between nine and ten in the evening and everything was sold out in a matter of minutes. I had my eyes set on the black/ballerina bucket bag, but every time I wanted to check out, it was no longer in stock. I gave up. Luckily I have an amazing boyfriend who doesn’t take no for an answer, and he managed to get through.

It’s strange what a simple product can do to people. Some people stayed up the entire night, others took a day off from work or called to say they would be late. Even I started to stress a little when I had to sign up for an account, which would take another couple of minutes. Of course this is nothing compared to for instance Black Friday. Another example of how materialistic we sometimes are. I know I am occasionally and I’m not proud of it (I felt like such an idiot, refreshing that website every five seconds between nine and ten, but at that point there was no turning back). I honestly can’t wait for my bag to arrive but I will never put myself through such a time consuming and frustrating process again. There’s more to life than a bag or a pair of shoes.What is the craziest thing you ever did in order to get your hands on something you really wanted?

Image: Pinterest
mansur-gavriel-bucket-bag
By On In Shopping2,253 Comments

Ok, so here’s the deal. I would love to be that person that owns just one or two bags until they completely wear out before considering another one. But who wants to wear a Balenciaga bag to death? Not me. I want to use it for as long as possible. So I need another medium sized bag to rotate with. Below you’ll find some of my favourites but I still haven’t made up my mind. Although I’m starting to feel some pressure ever since I received an email from Mansur Gavriel that new stock is coming up in a couple of days. And we all know what happens when something is a. limited or b. hard to find. So what to do!?

Mansur Gavriel bucket bag (€495)
It’s everywhere. Well, at least online. I have never seen this bag in real life. Consequently, that also means I’ve never been able to feel the leather and to see how it looks on me. A big plus though, is the design. Very clean yet still interesting and different. And don’t forget the price! Expensive, but more reasonable than another Balenciaga bag.

Balenciaga bag (€1245)
I know, I already own one. But it’s an ongoing love affair for almost four years now. So maybe I should consider getting the same brand bag in a different model of colour? The Velo looks interesting and seems to be able to hold a lot. I already know that the craftsmanship is excellent and it hardly shows any damage. Unlike that Mansur Gavriel bag with it’s smooth leather. But still, I already own one.

Everlane Petra bag ($365)
Another bag that’s a little more budget friendly but unfortunately not available to anyone outside the US or Canada. I might be able to get my hands on it when we go to New York but that won’t be until the end of August or the beginning of September. The soft, smooth leather looks beautiful and I usually love a nice tote bag, but maybe the design is just a bit too simple for it’s price? Hmm…As you can see, all very different bags with price tags ranging from rather affordable to completely ridiculous. But please note that I can afford the occasional splurge and I have no problem with investing in a bag that will last me for years to come. An expensive brand is definitely not a must. I’m pretty sure hardly anyone recognises either my Céline bag or Balenciaga bag. And I’m totally fine with that because I don’t want to explain to anyone why I spent €600 on a small cross body bag. Yikes! But I do have a penchant for beautifully designed bags that are of outstanding quality. And I think I can find both in the options mentioned above. Let me know if you have any other suggestions or maybe even a favourite out of these three bags.

Image: Pinterest

how-to-5-piece-french-wardrobe
By On In Shopping, Wardrobe2,614 Comments

Even though I have only been blogging for a short time, my post on the 5 piece French wardrobe has been read quite a few times already. So I figured I should write a post on how to start with this approach, not in the least because of a comment by Colette who was wondering how I started it all. As I wrote in my other post I was introduced to the 5 piece French wardrobe through two internet forums. I then started to search for more information and finally committed to making this thing work after I convinced myself I could totally do this (and I desperately needed a pair of Acne Pistol boots). Before I started, I bought so many different clothes but never thought for one second about how I could make a purchase work with my existing wardrobe. Shopping was mainly a relaxing activity, definitely not a necessary one. God, I don’t even want to think about all the clothes I donated or threw away over the years, hardly worn or even brand-new with the price tag still attached. But let’s get to the point.

Define your personal style
If you still have a hard time figuring out your personal style, create a inspiration board on Pinterest to help you. Here’s mine. As you can see I’m leaning towards a mix of French and Scandinavian style. Nothing too feminine and mostly very relaxed. Try to find similarities between the images you selected and write down what drew you to these pictures in the first place. I know it can be hard to put these things into words, but I promise it will pay off!

Detox your wardrobe
I’m not going to tell you, you need to throw out your entire wardrobe just to start all over again. Because that would be ridiculous. Unless you really need to rid of your money. But in that case, let me know so I can send you my bank account number. Why not try to make this method work next to the wardrobe you already own? I mean, Rome wasn’t build in a day, right? So take your time. Sort out your clothes and create three piles: keep, maybe and throw. The maybe-pile probably consists of clothing you haven’t worn in a while but you’re not ready to get rid of them just yet. My solution? Put them in a box and store them for a couple of months. Did you miss anything? If not, you can definitely say your goodbyes. Most clothes can still be donated unless they’re all worn out (why would you keep that in your closet though?) or you could organise an evening with friends and trade clothes. The same goes for the throw-pile as well. And definitely get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit you anymore. Don’t buy or keep stuff for the body you want to have, but for the body you have right now.

Review what’s left
Now most people buy clothes they like. But not a lot of people are actually concerned about the fit of these items. I suggest you try on everything you decided to keep and take a good look in the mirror. Do you feel comfortable and confident? And most importantly, do you look your absolute best? What if the sleeves were a tiny bit shorter or your jeans a little less tight, would that improve your overall look? I know it’s hard, but try to be brutally honest with yourself. Also consider your current lifestyle and which colors look good on you. But don’t throw anything out just yet.

Create a list of basics and key pieces
Make a list of basics you need to replace or purchase and take your time with it. Chances are you won’t find that perfect pair of blue jeans in a day and you definitely don’t want to settle for less. Don’t forget, basics are different for everyone (see my list here). Your list should include clothes, shoes and accessories that are absolutely crucial in order to making your wardrobe work. Make sure these items allow you to mix and match. You can also start your list of key pieces that you would like to buy this upcoming season. Personally, my list is never long but if you’re just starting out, include anything that tickles your fancy and work from there. I’m sure if you give it some time, you’ll be able to cross some of the items of your list.

Research online and start shopping!
So, you’ve narrowed your list down to 5 key pieces you want to buy this season and your list of basics is complete? Start to research online. Lately I’ve been looking into the brand Everlane for example, because I’m very drawn to their transparency and ethics when it comes to manufacturing clothing etc. We’re planning a trip to the States in September and I have my eyes set on a few shirts and silk blouses. So Jamie-Lee’s review for instance was very helpful. When you’re done researching, it’s time to spend your hard earned cash.Good luck! And let me know if there’s anything I should add.PS. Excuse the old school Polyvore style collage with summer items. For some reason I’m already excited about spring/summer.

From left to right: Acne Studios Ash top (€170), Ace & Tate Lucy glasses (€98,00), Weekday Tuesday Instant Blue jeans (€45,00), Converse Jack Purcell leather sneakers ($70), Everlane Petra bag ($425)