Rumi and I ventured out of the hotel to take some photos but alas, the afternoon rain curtailed our plans. We ended up taking solace at the nearby 7-11 two blocks down.

Shirt, socks and shoes from Prada

Rumi and I went to the show venue this morning for another technical briefing. I’m so excited! Prada really pulled out all the stops for tonight’s spring/summer 2012 show here in Tokyo. From the styrofoam cars to the comfortable cube seats, they’ve imported props from their fashion show earlier this year in Milan. I’m wearing a look from Miuccia Prada’s fall/winter 2011 collection.

Don’t forget to log on to www.prada.com in five and a half hours to view the livestream.

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No, Lana del Rey is not the star of Prada’s spring/summer 2012 ad campaign but I am.

I kid, I kid you.

I wore my feathers when I went to my technical meeting at the Prada Tokyo show venue last night.

My friend Diane Pernet took me to CHA GINZA, one of her favourite tea places yesterday morning. For about 8 euros, I had what I thought was the best tea I ever tasted. Tea service, as you know, is a ritual, almost an art form, here in Japan.

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Sometimes I wish I was one of those minimalist people who look so effortless and chic in spite of limiting their wardrobe choices to a strict black and white palette. But you know me… give me prints, colour, skins, fur, textures and shiny things any time of the day. I know I’d feel naked and completely out of place if you send me out the door wearing nothing but a white button-down shirt, khakis and black converse sneakers. This whole “trying to look effortless” is simply not my thing. However, I must say I want to do it for the sake of trying things out. Afterall, fashion is all about playing with clothes and trying out looks for yourself. If it works, it works. I’m not gonna rob myself the joy of playing with clothes but sometimes, oh yes, sometimes, I can’t help but feel that this whole “trying to look effortless” thing is doing my head in. It’s like trying to put toothpaste back in a tube.

Sunglasses by Prada, backpack from Flight001, shirt and trousers by Versace x H&M, sneakers gifted by Versace

Are you drowning with all the SALE offers coming your way? We all know money doesn’t grow on trees so kiddies, use your greenbacks wisely! Some of you have emailed me asking for tips during this SALE season…

1) BYPASS THE TRENDS
I avoid buying directional pieces that define the season simply because I won’t get mileage or longevity out of them. I usually buy the strong pieces (even at full price) at the beginning of the season before everyone else wears them. If you’re gonna buy a strong piece, make sure it will last you at least a few seasons or make sure the piece is trans-seasonal (ie something you can wear regardless of the weather). No, you shouldn’t buy the $14,825 Balmain dress even if it was marked down from $29,650. I would buy the $507 Rag & Bone McCauley biker jacket instead.

2) STICK TO THE CLASSICS
I tend to stick to the classics to get more bang for my buck. Case in point: I popped by Macy’s in Herald Square the day before Thanksgiving and I stocked up on these colourful Polo Ralph Lauren polo shirts. Those preppy staples make terrific presents for any human being with a third leg. They were marked half-off, from $89.95, then I got an additional 10% discount for having an international passport. The result? I ended up buying one in every colour, got them gift wrapped, and rushed to the post office on Canal Street and sent some of my Chrismas presents early!

Don’t be classic-phobic. Seriously. It’s the time of the year to buy a great coat (run, don’t walk, run for this terrific Phillip Lim coat), a great jacket, lots of classic round-neck or v-neck cashmere sweaters, cardigans, or even a classic shoe, like these men’s brogues from Church’s.

3) HOWEVER, IF, LIKE ME, YOU HAVE NO SENSE OF DISCIPLINE OR CONTROL…
… and like strong pieces, treat yourself to one (I repeat, just one… ok fine, two, if you must) statement piece. I asked my gurl Ingrid from The Bag Hag Diaries for this season’s must-have and she told me it’s all about small bags. Why? It’s high time for us not to be weighed down by the bags we’re carrying and for the past few seasons, people have been carrying huge bags. Whether it’s a cross-body messenger, a clutch, or small satchel, everyone looks so much put together with a small bag. They streamline one’s look together as if nothing is out of place.

4) BEAUTY BOUNTY
Everyone loves beauty products. EVERYONE. There are awesome deals on fragrance, potions, creams, make-up, whatever. I love this website called StrawberryNET and have been using them for years. They ship anywhere in the world for free. I’m a sucker for pre-packaged beauty deals, you know, buy one perfume and get the shower gel and the body lotion for free. A bit ghetto but that’s how I roll and that’s the best way to create your own personal beauty counter without spending a ton. Who else is jealous of the girl whose bathroom counter looks like a branch of Sephora? Can I see a show of hands? Haha!

5) AVOID EXTRA CHARGES
Many online retailers far and wide now offer free shipping/handling wherever you are in the world. If you live in the USA, it pays to shop a retailer that’s based out of state so you don’t have to pay sales taxes. If you live overseas, why not shop at a store which automatically calculates customs duties and taxes so you don’t have to pay anything extra when you get the package? Stores like Net-a-Porter do it! My favourite stores? Shopbop and Luisa Via Roma ships anywhere in the world and to most countries for FREE.

Happy shopping!

Ever since I switched to my (perhaps “invested is the most appropriate term to use given the astronomical price tag) behemoth monster of a camera (Canon 5D Mark 2), I must say I’ve become very suspicious of portable, tiny ‘point and shoot’ cameras. The quality isn’t the same, you know?

Olympus Japan recently gifted me one of their Olympus Pen cameras (Olympus Pen Lite E-PL3 to be specific) and I must say I’m very impressed by it. There are times when I don’t want to bring my ultra heavy camera with me, especially when I’m going out at night. Nothing screams “FASHION BLOGGER” more than someone in designer clothes with a huge camera dangling from his/her/shim’s arm. The Olypus Pen Lite is tiny, compact and very discreet. It’s the perfect camera to bring when you want to document private memories.

Click HERE for more information.

The Bumble and Bumble salon in NYC’s Meatpacking District redefined my hair salon experience. It was very, very spacious and the waiting area offered breathtaking views… a far cry from what I’m accustomed to: cramped spaces with prying salon gays who serve two customers at a time, not to mention nosy matronic patrons listening to every word you say. Bumble and Bumble was different. Talk about a major upgrade. I think it’s the first time I got a haircut as in salon haircut in Manhattan. They were quick, efficient and friendly. It’s a shame I was pressed for time (I sandwiched my trim in between meetings) otherwise I’d get my hair color done as well.

Oh and my hair stylist, the very tall and very hunky Rogan definitely made my our day. Rumi and I left the salon with a new adjective…

Last night was the opening of Lady Gaga’s Workshop at Barney’s uptown so I thought I’d go cray cray with my outfit. I recycled my printed onesie from Target and blocked it out with this spectacular big, bright, yellow feathered number from Adrienne Landau (available at Shopbop). The result? Madness! My friend Wendy freaked out when she saw me… and so did a lot of people haha! I mean really, it’s fair to say that 98% of the people in New York City wears black especially in these cold winter months. But sorry buddy, alas, I’m not one of those people. Oh oh oh, I hope Lady Gaga doesn’t mind that I used her precious little monsters as a backdrop for blog photos. I love them! Hah! ;-)

Hat from Kitson Los Angeles, sunglasses from Prada, yellow feather coat from Adrienne Landau, onesie from Target, sandals from K. Jacques/Opening Ceremony Los Angeles

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