When I first heard that oxblood was the new thing, I thought “ugh, that sounds like the most un-appealing color ever. Like poop brown.” Apparently, it is just another name for maroon. Maybe just a shade or two lighter. Even though it is my school color (and indeed mascot, if a color can be a mascot), I’ve never liked maroon much. It just felt old. But since then, I’ve clearly been brainwashed by the recent onset of oxblood goods. On second thought, it may be just the right shade to go with all the blacks/grays of the season!

So I headed to Aqua from Bloomingdales to check out what they have on offer. It’s one of my favourite brands to go to off-sale season, as they’re always on trend and relatively affordable. In combination with well timed friends and family discount, the value is unbeatable!

When I saw the strapless red/silver dress, I knew I had to have it. It is just so pretttty and perfect for my upcoming birthday! It totally says birthday dress all over it. Plus, on non-birthday days, I can throw a leather jacket over it and get a rocker chic look (as the model does in their look book!). Alas, it was too warm on my birthday to wear a leather jacket. But it looked fabulous anyway! The material was a little flimsier than I expected from the pictures, but it worked out well as that (and the somewhat dizzying print) made it easier to DIY alter without anyone noticing.

As I was browsing, I also came across the red v necked dress, which I thought was the perfect addition to my winter wardrobe. Just to spice it up a bit. Imagine the red peeking out from underneath my black winter trench. Very Kate Middleton! I had concerns about the elastic waist looking cheap, but it is not anything a nice wide belt won’t fix. But alas, I was still disappointed with the actual dress when I got it. It was WAY flimsier than I expected. A winter colored summer dress. Maybe I should’ve read the fine print more carefully. Now I’m just trying to wear it as much as possible before it gets too told. It works well with a belt and black blazer.

Other items that caught my eye include the red leather dress and the red skinny jeans. I’m just not sure how comfortable a leather dress would be (how do people even wear leather skinnys???). As for the red skinny jeans, it is love. But I don’t buy denim online without trying them on, unless they are J Brand.

Image source: Bloomingdales

The problem with sales in Hong Kong is that they really try to push it to the last minute possible. They really don’t leave you much time to use your sales purchases before the next season comes along. Such is the case with my new Sofia di B yellow wedge sandals. There’s only a few more weeks of summer left before  I’ll have to retire them in favour of booties!

But they were just sitting there on the sales table calling out to me. The design is simple, clean and easy to wear. And they were surprisingly comfortable when I tried it on! The straps are actually really well designed to support the ankles. At 60% off, they are also quite reasonably priced (though I’ve never heard of this brand and neither has Google, so I must assume it is a Harvey Nichols bred brand).

I did think about it for a week. Contemplating the versatility of yellow, and whether cork wedge looks cheap (as I’ve always thought so). My conclusion was that I love yellow anyway, and this shade can even pass off as a light off brown shade. I maintain that cork wedge looks cheap though, and this pair would be better served with a straw weaved wedge. But one cannot be overly picky during final sales (especially when the price is right), and this will be a great alternative to my summer flats, gladiators and strappy sandals!

I originally went to the Miu Miu consignment at Lafayette to check out their new bow pumps. But then my eyes fell upon these Miu Miu embellished ballerinas with crystal heels and I immediately fell in love. Who wouldn’t? They are pink, they glitter, they sparkle and they have a pretty bow.  They completely appealed to my inner (or not so inner?) fairy tale princess!

Initially I thought the crystal heels impractical, and imagined how heartbroken I’d be if they fell off (I’m not the most light-footed of people). But I haven’t been able to get them out of my mind since I saw my friend’s pair of bejeweled Miu Miu heels on a night out. They looked so glam and comfortable!

At one point, I did valiantly put them down and took a walk around the shoe floor to cool my head. They won’t exactly go with my edgy going out outfits, and they’re a bit too sparkly for casual wear. The sparkles are already falling off and I’d likely lose a crystal at some point.

But in the end, I couldn’t help but go back for them! They are just too pretty!! Now, all I need are some tulle skirts to complete my transformation! 😉

No matter how many broken belts and shedding capes Sandro throws at me, somehow I still cannot resist it whenever I go back to Paris. This time in particular, because it was mid-July and it was on SALE and everything was 50% off! And unlike in London, they actually have a lot of stock left in all sorts of sizes. Plus a cheap Euro and tax back, who can resist??

I had limited time at the store (I had a flight to catch), and the first thing that caught my eye was this retro floral dress (officially called the radio dress). At first glance, it looked a bit old fashion. The print looked like it belonged on curtains. But then, upon closer examination it was actually quite cool and awesome. The style is simple and easy to wear, and the design is actually quite trendy! Just look how sexy the back is!

Along with the bold black outlines, it gives the dress an unexpected modern edge that makes it oh-so-trendy. This is definitely a statement piece, and I was sold.

Just to share with you every detail of my thought process, they also had this print on a classic strapless dress, which is much more girly and feminine. But it was way too formal, and I have no garden party to attend. My dress is clearly superior. And I’ve had many compliments on it since! Mostly from my family so far. Apparently big floral colorful prints are huge for the older Chinese generation.

Moving along, I’ve been actively looking for a white mini skirt for a while (ever since I got this lovely yellow DVF silk blouse, which would look lovely with a white mini). You’d think something so basic would be easy to find, but it is NOT. First, the material has to be good, so I won’t have to worry about it being see-through. Then it has to be well tailored (and not too casual/jersey like or too tight like I was going to a club). So when I spotted this Joyeuse skirt in white at Sandro, I knew I’d finally found it. While my colleague did comment the other day that the material looked like a blanket (seriously, men), so far I’m loving it! It is super versatile, and looks perfect with my yellow DVF blouse.

Image Source: Sandro

I’ve been loving the solid Kotur clutches ever since I spotted them at Harvey Nichols a year or so ago. They just look so fun and refreshing compared to the regular Chanel 2.55 that everyone wears on an evening out (here in Hong Kong anyway)! Best of all, they are actually quite affordable after sale (around US$150 -200).

I got my first Kotur earlier this year – the mauve espey sequin star (third from the left). Stars are not my favourite pattern (a little too primary school), but I like to think that one cannot see the stars from a distance in the evening anyway, since they’d be too dazzled by the sparkles! Thus far, it has been oodles of fun to use on a night out! Though I must admit, purple and red is a tad bit difficult to match with outfits.

So when I saw the gold Morley Zebra linen clutch a few months ago, I knew I had to have it! The zebra print is fun but not too bold, and I’ve identified gold as the missing color in my evening bag collection (along with something bright… like bright red or pink, but that is for another day). I finally picked it up last Friday, when they went on final sale. I was excited to use it immediately!

Unfortunately, in my excitement to find out how much I can fit in there (my iphone and camera maybe?), I may have nudged the gold stone clasp on top in the wrong direction… and the whole clasp just fell off!! I tried stuffing it back on, but obviously that did not work. Naturally I was upset. This is just not supposed to happen to a clutch that normally retails for US$395!!!! To give them credit, I emailed Kotur about this problem and they immediately offered to come pick it up and help me fix it (they’re based in HK!). But I don’t think it was so much as that bag in particular, as much as the laws of nature. 2 nails simply cannot hold such a big clasp onto linen and whatever else the clutch is made of, especially when pressure is expected to be exerted on it. In the end, I returned it and am now back on the market for a gold evening bag.

I’ve not completely given up on Kotur just yet though. They are still affordable and fun to use. Just be sure to buy on sale, and bear in mind the laws of nature when selecting the style!

Image source: Kotur