the iphone has landed

i'm probably the least gadget savvy person ever. like, i only just got my iphone? orange is the 2nd mobile network provider to offer 3G services for the iphone. my contract with them expired, so i called for an upgrade and got the phone for free.

spent 30mins trying to work out where to slot in the sim card. then spent the rest of the evening trying to register the phone, but first they need me to sync itunes to iphone. but i need to first upgrade my ancient itunes to the current version. but to install the current itunes version, i need to first upgrade my mac osx version. did that, installed new itunes, but they said i need to download the lastest quicktime player in order to launch new itunes. so after numerous new updates and restarting of computer, i finally got to register the iphone.

the little details i sweat. and once i get the 3G working, and learn how to tweet on the go, you guys shall be bombarded.

now comes the very important question: what iphone case should i get?! suggestions please, and no louis vuitton nor hermes cases.


now where's that mute/vibrate function again...

trussardi 1911 for vman 16

there's a really cool editorial in the latest issue of vman, featuring some of my favourite pieces from trussardi 1911's spring 2010 collection. i attended the show in milan back in june, and really like the folksy elements. that top with the feather details is easily my favourite piece. read more about my trussardi experience here.

seems like the intricate feather detailing is also translated onto the lust worthy suede bag. simply stunning, i really want both pieces.

.: trussardi 1911 spring summer 2010:.

are those trussardi sneakers too? if so, i need a pair too. gosh this spring 2010 wishlist is neverending.

vman editorial by milan vukmirovic. the new issue of vman drops 17th november.



+

ck free fragrance giveaway - results

a big thank you to everyone who entered the "ck free" x 00o00 giveaway last week. i've read every message enclosed with the entries, thank you for writing them too.

though not required with the entries, i did receive some very interesting quotes, on why they should be chosen:

- maverick tan from malaysia said he stinks and needed me to save mankind. i am only too happy to oblige!

- daniel källberg recently relocated from sweden to a horrid flat in london, so i thought a bottle of ck free might spruce it up.



thank you to all who entered, and big thanks for ck fragrances and wiredset for sponsoring the giveaway.


+

inspiration tuesdays

"working out is modern couture. no outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body. buy less clothing and go to the gym instead."

~ rick owens / details "rules of style"
[rick owens by nick knight / tokyo dandy]

that was rick reprimanding me earlier over the phone. i best go do some running later. i had a kfc 2-piece variety meal last sunday, large with gravy no less. *hangs head in shame*



+

don't shoot me

brian henke, president of jimmy choo, in... prada shoes.

i'm probably not going to be invited to any of their future events, but gotta have free speech: i know jimmy choo doesn't do men's shoes, but a pair of that jimmy choo x h&m suede booties would have been perfect. those prada loafers ruined the outfit for me.

gosh i'm brave, or silly in that respect. urgh.



pic from nitrolicious
+

artofthetrench.com

you've probably read it on facebook, twitter, blogs, webzines and all other social media platforms that burberry today launched a website called "artofthetrench". if you've been reading this blog for the past year and the half, you should gather that i have a lot of love and respect for the house of burberry. and i don't say this easily.

innovation is what they do. the trench coat has been tweaked and modified each season. in tough retail times, they think about ways to reach out to their customers. what a better way to engage the audience by getting the hottest street style photographer right now to showcase how the classic trench could be relevant and worn in different ways, in a seemingly real environment.

social media platforms is all about being interactive (which i kinda suck at as i am bad at returning emails or comments on my blog). to really push the boat, users can rate and comment on their favourite pics. for the brave ones, you can upload your own pic and see what others really think of your look. lookbook.nu does it, but this is the first time a major fashion house is embracing the idea. they were one of the first to stream their fashion show real time too. all these little changes and innovation, active rather than reactive. that's what my boss said anyways: lead the pack or fall behind.

anyway, back to the site. i can't believe only 45 people like that rainy day pic. it's a typical scene in london, yet it doesn't faze him. that waistcoat, that poise, the flapping of the trench in the showers. i feel ashamed now, whenever it pours i put on my rubber soled shoes and keep my expensive coats in the cupboard. but how ironic, the trench is actually made for the outdoors and is shower proof.

what an essay. you're probably bored by now. but later today there'll be a "tuesday inspiration" post. it'll probably make more sense when that's posted, but it hurts me to say, money can't buy style. i'm better off spending time, learning how to walk straight and be confident. those 2 gents up there look amazing because of their poise and the presence they command, and of course the trench helps. i might as well say it since it's on everyone's mind (don't deny it): how we wish we could be a part of this amazing project. but i am still that slightly awkward duckling in the corner.

ok i dug into my archive: as britney would sing "i'm not a trench not yet a mac either..."

dear sartorialist, of all places i was inside the fitting room at harvey nichols!

visit artofthetrench.com for some of the amazing streetstyle pics, or upload your own.

+

joe mcelderry loves topman (or the x-factor stylists do)

these days i try to stay home on weekends as the x-factor mania has hit. simon cowell has been meaning to send jedward packing for weeks, and he got a chance on sunday but decided on the public vote instead. and jedward stays! i love them, they could be the new ant & dec you know.

anyway, the lad from southshields who had consistently avoided the bottom two is joe mcelderry. on many occasions i noticed that he wore topman. on last saturday's "movie night" show, he wore a denim blazer with black pipings:

i remembered seeing this blazer in shops. i like their cut of blazers now, it's more fitted and more flattering. this blazer is also available online here.

a few weeks ago, joe also wore the above double breasted blazer from topman, while doing a very forgettable/cheesy/cabaret big band number. he pared it with a white shirt with black piping details.

the blazer is actually one of my favourites from topman's recent collection. i like the soft draping of the tuxedo collar, the buttons down to the slimmer and cropped cut. the db blazer is available online here, and the white shirt with black piping is also available here. i really like the shape of that white shirt collar, very stylish.

.: joe mcelderry / getty images :.

joe also wore the blazer to the premiere of jim carrey's "a christmas carol" last week. for some reason i think the blazer doesn't fit him quite right though.

at last wednesday's "topman x timeout" event, terry, one of the topman stylists also wore this fitted db blazer. he did approached me to ask if i needed any help, what with me balancing my work bag, my mac, 2 cardigans and a pair of trousers on my hand. i wanted to ask where that blazer was from as it really fitted him nicely.

i will make sure i try that blazer the next time i'm at topman.

off duty, the x-factor hopeful also wore topman. at the judges's house in marrakech, he made it to the final 12, impressing cheryl cole and will young with his vocals and black topman polo-tee with white pipings.

the black polo-tee is also available online here, as well as the hooded toggle jacket he wore on several other occasions.

he is more west end musical stage than pop star material to be honest. let's hope cheryl cole gives him a challenging song next week to proof us wrong. click here for his performance on last saturday's show, singing elton john's "circle of life" from the movie "the lion king".

(it's movie week, and they chose such a predictable song for him. tsk tsk)


+

fashion three way

details magazine did an interesting feature, where they showed how 3 small tweaks can drastically improve an outfit. i saw the pics, and thought "wow it worked, they made him less boring!".

and then i realised they changed him from the outfit in green, to the outfit in blue, not the other way round as i thought!

really?? i can see how the 3 subtle tweakings changed his look, but the look on the right is supposedly the "drastically improved" outfit? they swapped his margiela sneakers for clarks desert boots!

ok this guy kyle is a personal trainer, with a body like that he'll look good even with a bin liner. but i really think the "before" outfit is way more interesting and doesn't need that tweaking. so let's do a poll (come on give me some support, "before" is the better look!):

poll by twiigs.com

poll closes tuesday night. click here for the feature from details.com, and to see which 3 subtle tweakings were made.



+

youtube sundays

2 weeks ago i saw on tv shirley bassey's performance for bbc's "eletric proms". i wasn't entirely familiar with her work, and i associate her with big gay anthems like "diamonds are forever", "hey big spender" etc. but i sat through 2hrs of her performance, totally mesmerised by songs from her upcoming album. with a softer sound and a whole host of talents queuing up to write for her, i find myself putting on the iplayer on repeat most days.

check out "almost there", written by tom baxter. i'm loving the softness and emotions at the start, and then soaring through the climatic end. and then there's the beautiful beautiful "after the rain" written by richard hawley, the pet shop boys penned "the greatest performance of my life".

i feel this should be the comeback album that whitney houston should have made.

shirley bassey at the roundhouse london, for bbc electric proms

"if you're listening now i hope that i make more sense
cause now i'm not quite so young, not quite so foolish in my defence
watch me someday, somehow i will make it somewhere i'm going higher
i'll rise so much higher and i'll hold my head higher. almost there
i still smell that perfume you wear
although i'm not your man,

we were almost there..."



+

"a single man" premiere at grauman's chinese theatre, hollywood

tom ford's "a single man" is one of the movies that i am eagerly anticipating. yesterday evening, tom ford the film director, took his leading men to hollywood for the film's premiere, all dressed i assume, by tom ford the fashion designer.

up and coming brit actor nicholas hoult. yes, he's that dorky boy in that movie "about a boy", also starring hugh grant. not fair!!! anyway, i'm not entirely sure if nicholas's sharp suit is by tom ford as the latter's suits usually have signature wide lapels. nicholas is looking mighty fine here, i think we can excuse the imperfect tie knot.

one of the leads in "a single man", matthew goode. loving the 3 piece suit, down to the polka dot hankie. man they scrub up well.

the designer, the director, tom ford, spotting a crotchet tie. whatever he's breathing can i have some please. he is perfection, if i am to look this good at 48, can they speed up my aging process please?

now when's the movie coming to london...



source: getty pics / reuters pics / ap photo
+

alexander mcqueen fall winter 2008 runway bags

fall winter 2008 is quite possibly my favourite mcqueen menswear season. there were so many intricate detailing, and so many wishlist worthy pieces. i remembered trying the coat on the left but unfortunately it didn't fit well. and now, the bags made it's way to my favourite online treasure trove!

the olive/antique green bag is practically yelling for my name! the smooth calf leather versions is now reduced to £390, while the pebbled grained version is now £670.

i stayed home all day to avoid the shops but ended up updating my wishlist on the right of the blog, but bank balance intact. now santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight...



+

meanwhile at the bakerloo line south bound platform...

they making a comeback?

pierre cardin was considered an avant garde designer back in his days, and was a member of the prestigious "chambre syndicale de la haute couture". but rampant licensing is all i can remember now, which is sad.


-

ninety million pounds

i'll say it again: if you can put a price on hope, £1.50 seems reasonable. tonight's jackpot is £90,000,000. good luck to me!


+

jam & jerusalem

i went to the topman x timeout shoppers event yesterday, here's what i picked:

gosh i need to suck in that pot belly! and pardon the clashing stripes, i went to the event after work. i bought this rather chanel-ey cardigan, from a label called "the village green". it's a nice cotton cardigan, adorned with gold buttons.

but soon i realised that the last button was missing, and i decided to go one size up so it'll look better with skinny trousers.

it's simple yet with quirky details, i love it! the cardigan is also available online here.

i did ponder over the button issue. it would have been perfect if it was slightly tarnished with a vintage feel.

i also tried on another similar cardigan, but this was cream colored with contrasting bands on the pockets. the striped top was the first to catch my eye, and hence i decided to go with my first instinct.

the cream colored "village green" cardigan is also available online here.

hmmm maybe i should go get some antique-y buttons and change them myself...

"we are the village green preservation society
god save strawberry jam & all the different varieties
preserving the old ways from being abused
protecting the new ways for me & for you
what more can we do
god save the village green.” ~ the kinks

+