It’s no secret that I’m a HUGE fan of Marchesa. Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig make some of the most magical and magnificent dresses around. I recently visited their headquarters to see what their team are brewing for their spring/summer 2013 fashion show on Wednesday afternoon and these enormous inspiration boards greeted me.

A close inspection of the mood boards reveal India (and its rich history of colour, details and embellishment) as a huge reference point.

I thought it was so gracious and kind of Georgina to give me an intimate tour of their studio. She introduced me to her atelier staff, showed me how samples are made and gave me a preview of some of their gorgeous crystal and exotic skin clutch bags!

Georgina is one of the talented personalities Canon have chosen to direct films as part of their Project Imagination film festival. I can’t wait to see the film she directs for Canon and of course, I’m excited for Wednesday’s fashion show.

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Ever wonder what goes into making a handbag? Mulberry just released this video that details the birth of their new Del Rey (yes — inspired by Lana) bag.

Click HERE to shop Mulberry.

Rumi and I trekked to the East Village this Sunday for brunch at Via Della Pace. It’s been a while since I last had eggs benedict, smoked salmon and mimosas on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I love the East Vilage. I really do. There are tons of cute little cafes, restaurants and vintage shops. I should come back there more often.

Hat by Suzy O’ Rourke, shirt, black short-sleeved sweater, shorts by Theory, shoes by Louis Leeman, backpack by Prada

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How are you prepping for fall? I bought this tweed outfit (top and trousers) from J Crew sometime last week and I thought it would be cool to elevate the look with this ultra chic and ultra luxe crocodile Oscar de la Renta small dex bag. Ditto with the floral appliques of the new shoe from Prada. Little touches of lady-like goodness certainly won’t hurt a boy from time to time.

Sunglasses by Celine, custom-tailored white shirt, Theory jacket, tweed top and trousers by J. Crew, shoes by Prada and Small Dex crocodile bag by Oscar de la Renta.

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How can one not fall in love with this gorgeous Givenchy Antigona bag? The emerald green colour is so rich, rich, rich, luxe, luxe, luxe! I think I found my bag of the season. Now if only I could get my sweaty hands on it asap, I’d be a very happy camper.

Givenchy Antigona bag from FarFetch (click HERE)

Time and time again, I’ve always said that the older I get, the more I become allergic to the colour black. HOWEVER, it just occured to me now that I seem to be unconsciously collecting black accessories. What gives?

Hermes Kelly Double Tour bracelet
Louis Leeman shoes
Bottega Veneta sleeping mask
Francesco Scognamiglio notebook
Celine sunglasses
Lulu Guinness ‘Little Black Book’ clutch
Lulu Guinness Lips credit card case

I’m not usually a big fan of coloured sunglasses. I like my sunnies how I like my coffee — strong and black. After the recent demise of my Celine and Yves Saint Laurent, I bought this cheeky pair at the Fendi store in Venice a couple of weeks ago.

Shirt and sweater by Boss Black, sunglasses by Fendi

Luca Finotti directed this cheeky video called ‘Italiana’ featuring select pieces from the spring/summer 2012 Dolce & Gabbana women’s eyewear collection. I thought it was cute for two women, mother and daughter, fight over sunglasses — something me and my mum haven’t done before. Thank god my taste in eyewear tends to be on the extreme side of things. Anyway, Bianca is soo gorgeous. When I visited Milan last month, I had a hard time crossing the street because of the huge Dolce & Gabbana/Bianca Balti billboard at Porta Garibaldi!

Oh the delight of new-found discoveries! I love these gorgeous, gold-dipped headpieces designed by Sydney milliner Suzy O’Rourke. The folks from Bless’ed Are The Meek used them for their show at this season’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. Suzy makes some of the most fabulous headpieces around; you have to visit her website to see more of her work.

I’ll never forget this girl named Katrina in my school bus back when I was in freshman high school. I must have been 13 at that time. While all the other kids played with each other in the bus, I chose to read my mom’s magazines. Back issues of Vogue were my after-school best friend. They made that agonizing thirty minute ride home bearable. Whenever Gucci ad pages came up, Katrina, who sat across me, always chanted “look at my Gucci watch, look at my Gucci watch!” before shoving her wrist to my face. If memory served me right, she was the daughter of a lawyer and for what seemed like eternity, she bragged about her stupid Gucci watch that she received as a gift. It was sickening. Deep down inside, I felt rather inferior because all I had at that time was this neon orange and neon green rubber and fabric “POP” Swatch that my aunt gave me as a Christmas present. I’m not a combative type of person so I didn’t say anything. Besides, she was a year older than me. She had Benetton accessories. I had Penshoppe (a Filipino brand akin to I dunno, Forever 21). I simply shut up and flipped through my magazines. That same year, I begged my parents to buy me that iconic Prada black nylon backpack with two pockets on the front. My parents weren’t having it from a thirteen year old child, of course. It wasn’t until I was fifteen that my mom finally bought one for me.

Fast forward a decade and a half later… I popped by the Prada store on Corso Venezia in Milan last week to stock up on some spring/summer goodies. I bought another pair of golf shoes, two trousers and this navy blue backpack. Just seeing it on the rack (they come in gray and brown as well) brought back childhood memories. I took it out for a spin in Amsterdam this weekend.

Hat, shirt, shorts by Acne, sunglasses by Yves Saint Laurent, jacket gifted by Versace, backpack and shoes by Prada

I guess one cannot erase the emotional scars of yesteryear (I can’t say I’m very angry because thinking about it, we were all young and naive) but let me tell you, walking out of a store after buying something you really like, on your own terms, with your own money, is always an exhilarating experience.

Like a big FUCK YOU to everyone.