Shopping in Shanghai (part 3)

(Patent leather oxford)

(Hooded grey poncho)

(Fringed blk scarf)

(Leopard print pumps)

Last week in Shanghai obviously means last minute shopping: getting souvenirs and special requests for friends & family.  However, I did make the time to buy two pairs of shoes and a hooded poncho (which I also got for le Boudoir since it was such a good buy!).  The fringed scarf was an emergency purchase when we were in Pudong and it got really cold.  I absolutely love it and think it's a great accent piece to have.

Now, I just need to figure out a way to pack everything in my suitcases without being over-weight!  Leaving for Mtl tomorrow...see you all soon!

Take a walk on the wild side

(Vogue Paris April 2011)

Let me first start off by saying that NO NORMAL HUMAN, let alone mother of a toddler, can walk around in what seems to be Salvation Army clothes and look this sexy.  Gisele is just surreal (did you see her but cheeks on the first picture?!?).

The April 2011 issue of Vogue Paris is the first issue under Emmanuelle Alt's direction.  Although I'm a huge fan of Alt's personal style, I have somewhat of mix feelings about this editorial...maybe it's the fact that I misses Carine Roitfeld; maybe it's the fact that the clothes are not my style; maybe I'm just jealous?

I was really hoping for something more Chic and Provocative...something more Vogue Paris.

Obsession du jour - 12mm lashes

So it's been over 2 1/2 weeks since my eyelash extension and I'm in love.  They are much lighter and comfortable than my previous two trials (and double the price tag but still cheaper than at home) that sometimes I forget they're not my own lashes!  I mean I don't even need eye makeup anymore to look wide awake.  So this is how it feels like when you're naturally beautiful!

While I'm well aware that I won't be able to maintain this indulgence, I'm not yet willing to give up!  My girlfriend Taylor told me about Latisse, a prescription eyelash growth serum, and its miracle results.  But obviously, it's not available in Canada yet (I bet Kazakhstan will get it before we do!)  Being equally obsessed about lashes and tired of crossing the boarder for her "prescription", Taylor researched and found that the active ingredient Bimatopost is also found in Lumigan, which is available in Canada.

Once home, I'll start my treatment in quest of achieving 12 mm length lashes.

Shopping in Shanghai (part 2)

(Eyes & Lip t-shirt)

(Stripped tie t-shirt)

(Bat wings t-shirt)

(Wht racer tank)

(Batwin t-shirt dress)

(Blk denim sneaker boots)

(Blk chain crossbody pouch)

(expresso cups w/ chinese zodiac sign)

(hand crafted tribal necklaces)

(modelling one of the necklaces)

Last week's shopping can be described in one word: bargain. We started off with a local friend taking us to a sample warehouse sale.  The selection was limited and mostly past season pieces, but that's the same with any sale right?  Since I had Ayden with me, I was limited to buying t-shirts where I can just pick up a few without trying.  Some Alexander Wang, Sonia Rykiel and E.vil with Hong Kong Harvey Nichols tags still attached at $ 1250 HK (a little less than $200 US)!!!  Obviously, we paid no more than 80% off!

I also picked up a pair of black denim runner boots and a black chain crossbody pouch from I.T. on sale. The selection of high end designer and bridge designer at Shanghai Xintiandi I.T. is well edited.  The most sought after pieces and nothing more.  I so wanted to grab the whole rack of Givenchy...

Lastly, I always pick up a few pieces of jewelry from street vendors when I travel.  This time, I got 3 really cool and unique tribal necklaces for about $30 US!!!  Obviously, I bargained it down from originally $80!!  oh...and I couldn't resist the expresso cups with chinese zodiac sign; one for me, one for hubby and one for Ayden (the cup will most likely be broken by the time Ayden will enjoy his first expresso but oh well!).

from Shanghai with love (week 2)

Time passes by so fast...only one week left before I need to start packing!  I already miss the delicious food and the over-crowdedness.

Last week have been series of mini wins and equal losses.  I got lots of bargain shopping done (always a win in my book!) but went to two different Chanel boutiques without any success of getting a XL gold CC brooch (big loss!) followed by a confirmation that we will not be taking any side trip to Hainan even bigger loss!).

Ok, I got over the brooch quickly but I was really looking forward to some sun & sand.  But we had no choice but to stay in Shanghai since my mom cannot handle babysitting Ayden more than 24hr at a time and we are not allowed to bring him with us on side trips...so annoying when you have so many elder relatives bossing you around!!!

need more massage...

Outfit du jour - Give me a chance and I can be yours forever

Technically, this was my outfit yesterday but didn't get a chance to blog until today.  Went to Jingan Temple with the whole family to pray for health and fortune, a tradition that is set in stone during each of my trips back to Shanghai.

While on Nanjing Rd, we did our window shopping session at SOGO and Plaza 66.  And there it was, in the window display of Chanel boutique, my oversized gold CC brooch that the Canadian Chanel stores never ordered!!  Trying to keep my cool, I marched in and asked to see it.  "How much is this?", I requested.  "2500 RMB" the sales answered.  I did a quick calculation in my head to realize that $360 is really not bad for such a big brooch, not to mention that I won't find it back home.  "I'll take it!"

While waiting for my gift wrapped Chanel, the sales hurried back to apologize and tell me that it's actually 4200 RMB!!!  What the f@*%?!?  I was bummed for the rest of the day...And the fact that my hubby did not share my frustration made me even more upset!

Top - gifted; Leather shorts - Twenty8Twelve; Hat - Hotwind; Boots - Modern Vintage; Scarf - Hermes; Ring - Dominic Jones; Watch - Hermes; Beaded bracelet - gifted; Triple wrap bracelet - Club Monaco

from Shanghai with love (week 1)

A few snapshots of my first week in Shanghai.  It was somewhat painful due to lack of sleep mostly because Ayden was jetlagged.  Obviously, we still tried to make the most out of our time.

I really wanted to take more pictures but it seems like photography is banned pretty much everywhere we went: boutiques, restaurants and even food stands.  How annoying!  Even more annoying was the fact that some of my old shopping spots have been removed as part of a major city revamp last year before the EXPO...well, all I can say is that food has been amazing, massage is cheap and I have a new set of eyelash extension that makes me very very happy!