Friday, September 30, 2016

How to save on a brand new Saint Laurent bag

As mentioned last week, I am saving for this Saint Laurent bag. I've been researching to find the best price possible and wanted to share a couple of options below:

Option # 1: The Saint Laurent boutique in Hawaii is running an incredible promotion right now. If you call and place an order over the phone, you'll get 20% off your entire purchase. Plus for me, there is no sales tax since there isn't a Saint Laurent boutique in Ohio. The shipping cost is $25 but I'd save roughly $390 if I purchase the exact same bag in Hawaii vs online

SaintLaurent

Option # 2: The price of the exact same bag on Selfridges is $1385. That's a $565 discount for the exact same bag! The shipping cost to the US is $30. Unfortunately, the size small is no longer available. Keeping my finger crossed that they will restock soon. Will definitely pull the trigger when that happens. I hope you find this post helpful. If you have your eye on a Saint Laurent bag, definitely worth checking out.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Floral Bell Sleeve Dress

FloralBellSleeveDress_SydneysFashionDiary  

Let me start by saying I love this dress so much. Shein can be hit or miss (unfortunately, more misses than hits). However, this dress is definitely a hit. I love the print. It's so gorgeous for the Fall season. The shape/fit was perfect for me and the material seems decent quality. I am not exactly a fan of bell sleeves but warming up to the trend. For only $20, it doesn't hurt to give it a try. My only criticism is that it seems to wrinkle easily but a quick steam is all it takes =) Outfit details: Shein dress c/o | Forever 21 choker | Banana Republic bag  *on sale* | BP boots | Tom Ford sunglasses

FloralBellSleeveDress_SydneysFashionDiary

Monday, September 26, 2016

Blog Sale

Ladies,

I am making room in my closet for some Fall purchases. If you're interested in any of the pieces below, please stop by my blog sale here

BlogSale_SydneysFashionDiary

Gingham Floral Dress

PetiteFriendlyDress_SydneysFashionDiary  

How was everyone's weekend? Ours was eventful! We went apple picking on Saturday and the girls had a blast. It's hard to think about Fall when it's still blazing hot outside. I got this dress a few weeks ago and am glad I got a chance to wear it before it gets cold. I have a California wedding to go to in November and might pack this dress with me. I did raise the shoulder seam a tad to help improving the overall fit of the bodice. This unique dress is full of beautiful detailing and gives off a romantic vibe. Outfit details: c/o Dezzal dress | Identical suede sandals | Banana Republic purse | Quay sunglasses

BananaRepublicSuedeBag_SydneysFashionDiary

Friday, September 23, 2016

72 hours in DC :: Saint Laurent Sunset & Gucci Dionysus

SaintLaurentSunsetBag2016_SydneysFashionDiary

Happy Friday, ladies! I took a quick trip to DC for work and landed home late last night. I am super sleepy at work right now but wanted to quickly share my thoughts on a couple of bags that I got to try on this week. Right after I checked into my room, I turned around and headed to Tyson's Galleria. It's an upscale mall located in McLean, VA. This mall is seriously a dream. I had a list of things that I wanted to see in person and was able to check everything off my list. As mentioned last week, I am saving for a Saint Laurent bag. The reason I haven't decided on which one because I haven't seen any of them in person. There isn't a Saint Laurent store in Ohio and my local Saks has a very limited collection of Saint Laurent bags in stock. After seeing and touching a few bags, without a doubt, my next bag would be the Saint Laurent Sunset bag. OMG! It's insanely gorgeous in person. This bag is very new to the market. It was released earlier this year. I spent the last couple of months researching the bag. From what I gathered, this bag is available in 2 sizes: small and medium. Also within each size, there are 2 strap options: the chain strap and the leather strap. I believe the chain chap is a limited edition. It comes in black, burgundy (this is the exact combo I wanted but in a small size), deep blue, blue, red *10% off* and croc embossed. As far as I know, the exact combo I wanted is not available anywhere at this point :( I love the size, the length of the strap and the overall design of the bag. You know I am a sucker for textured leather and this bag is nothing short of amazing. I am glad I got to see it in person. I am planning to purchase the bag early next year but if the exact combo I am looking for is available, I might pull the trigger sooner rather than later.

GucciDionysus2016_SydneysFashionDiary

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Hits & Misses # 22 :: Transitional Outfit

TransitionalOutfit_SydneysFashionDiary

It's that awkward time of the year when everyone is talking about Fall fashion but it's still pretty warm out. Why not incorporate Fall pieces into your summer look? Take this outfit as an example, I love my denim cutoffs so much and refuse to put them away for the season. However, you can pair your favorite summer shorts with a lightweight sweater for added warmth if necessary. This sweater is as comfy and soft as it looks. I really enjoy the shapeless, oversized silhouette. Finished off the look with one of my favorite Fall staples - the booties that I purchased last year. Outfit details: Make me chic sweater c/o | AE midi shorts | BP booties | Tom Ford sunglasses

BPAnkleBoots_SydneysFashionDiary

Monday, September 19, 2016

Black Lace Sheath Dress

Disclaimer: I received this dress courtesy of WHBM. Styling ideas and opinions expressed are my own.


WHBMFall2016_SydneysFashionDiary

Today, I am featuring another stunning piece from the White House Black Market 2016 Fall Collection. As you can see in the photos, the dress is very flattering for my shape. I am wearing a size 00P in this post. I've found WHBM's dresses to be really consistent with sizes. I own 4 or 5 dresses from them and the size 00P is almost guaranteed the perfect fit. I wore this outfit to my birthday dinner and got a few compliments. The dress is fully lined so you don't have to worry about it being see through. Every woman needs a little black dress and this one is sure to turn heads. Outfit details: WHBM lace dress *size 00P* | Almost identical fringe sandals | Banana Republic suede bag | Tom Ford sunglasses | Colourpop Avenue lipstick

PetiteFriendlyLaceDress_SydneysFashionDiary

Friday, September 16, 2016

Luxury Addict Tag 2016

I saw the "luxury addict tag" floating around YouTube and thought it'd be something fun to talk about. Hope you enjoy this week's handbag chit chat!

D&BMiniBag_SydneysFashionDiary

1. What was your first designer piece? My very first designer piece was this Dooney and Bourke mini bag. It was purchased probably 15 years ago. I still remember the feeling of holding my very first designer bag. You can see the color is faded quite a bit.
2. What do you consider your best investment? My love for handbags is definitely not for investment purpose. However, as a rule of thumb, a good investment is something that will pay you more than you paid for it. I have sold 3 Chanel bags from my personal collection and that was always the case. Because Chanel bags hold their value extremely well and the prices rise quite steadily, it's safe to say their classic bags are great investment in general.
3. What is your criteria when looking to buy a piece? #1: It has to fit my lifestyle: There were times when I purchased a bag because of its popularity. I ended up selling it shortly after because it just simply did not work for me. #2: Versatility: You'd never find myself buying 2 of the same bag. They're just too dang expensive to have 2 of the same thing. My goal is to gradually build up a collection that has a variety of versatile handbags.
4. What has been your stupidest/most regrettable purchase? I wouldn't call it a stupid/regrettable purchase but I wish I took more time to think about purchasing my Prada double bag. I had it for only a short period of time and did take a cut selling it.

PradaCuirDoubleBag_SydneysFashionDiary

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Tahari ASL :: Styling ideas

TahariASLOfficeWorthyOutfit_SydneysFashionDiary

I am always on the lookout for new brands to try. While Tahari by Arthur S. Levine is not new to the fashion industry, it's new to me. When the brand reached out to me, I was ecstatic to find out that they do have dedicated petite lines. While browsing their site, I put together 3 outfits that will carry me from work to weekend. Tahari ASL pieces can be found at Dillards and Lord & Taylor. I hope you enjoy this styling post and a special thanks to Tahari ASL for sponsorship today's content. TahariASLEffortlessWeekendOutfit_SydneysFashionDiary

TahariASLDateNightOutfit_SydneysFashionDiary

Monday, September 12, 2016

Choker Collar Blouse :: Rich Burgundy Hue

Disclaimer: I received this top courtesy of WHBM. Styling ideas and opinions expressed are my own.


WorkOutfitForFall_SydneysFashionDiary

The weather is cooling down quite a bit and I am loving it. Now that Fall is right around the corner, I am looking forward to enjoying the rich hues. One color always get the attention during the Fall season is the burgundy color and White House Black Market is killing it this season. The new Fall collection is full of so many eye-catching burgundy pieces. Today, I am pairing this oh-so-on-trend choker top with my beloved camel skirt for a work appropriate look. I love this top for several reasons. The deep maroon shade is absolutely stunning in person. The choker top trend is everywhere this season and I am a huge fan. The choker style neckline adds some ultimate chic vibes to a rather plain top. The top is fully lined and drapes so nicely. I am wearing a size 00P here and couldn't have asked for a better fit. Outfit details: WHBM top c/o *size 00P* | similar pencil skirt (available in petite) | identical suede platforms | Tom Ford sunglasses

Friday, September 9, 2016

How to save $800 on a new Chanel boy

How to save $800 on a new Chanel boy
{Chanel boy preowned options here or here

Saks is running their triple points event from now - 09/12 (online and in-stores). For those of you who don't know, triple points is the best time of the year to make any large purchases as you get the most money back for your end of the year gift card. I believe gift cards will be sent out in February but you can always have the amount credit back to your account by calling their CS line. If you're in need of a Saks SA who specialize in Chanel, feel free to contact me. Here's how to save roughly $800 on a brand new Chanel boy bag:

Current retail price for the new medium size is $5200. If you open a Saks card up, you'll get 10% off your purchases made within the first day | $5200 - 10% = $4680 (you'll save $520)
Spend up to $4999 and earn 2 points for every dollar spent  | $4680 x 2 = 9360 points= $93.60
During triple points, get 6 points for every dollar spent | $4680 x 6 = 28080 points = $280
Total discount + gift card amount = $520 + $280 = $800

Granted, you're not really saving $800 but still, the gift card is yours to spend. I wish I knew about the triple points event when I purchased my boy.

Another thing I wanted to point out is that if you spend over $5000 per year, you'll earn Elite status. If you're an Elite customer, you'll earn 4 points for every dollar spent. Using the Chanel boy bag as an example, you would earn 12 points for every dollar spent during the triple points even. For a $5000 purchase, you would earn a hefty $600 gift card. Not too shabby huh?

I can't emphasize enough the importance of paying the balance off at the end of the billing cycle. This strategy is only worth doing if you're going to make the purchase regardless and planning to pay it off shortly after. Nothing worth paying the interest rate at 24.24% APR even a Chanel bag =)

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Striped Shirt :: Work To Weekend

StripedShirtCutOffShorts_SydneysFashionDiary

I got this shirt last month and can't seem to get enough of it. Today, I wanted to show you a couple of ways to style this shirt. It's a versatile piece that can easily take you from work to weekend. Happy Wednesday, everyone! Outfit details: Striped shirt | AE midi shorts | Tom Ford sunglasses | J.Crew No. 2 wool skirt | WHBM leather mules | J.Crew slip-on

JcrewNo2WoolSkirt_SydneysFashionDiary StripedShirtCutOffShorts_SydneysFashionDiary

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Floral Flutter Sleeve Dress

BananaRepulicFloralDress_SydneysFashionDiary

Can't remember the last time I've purchased something from Banana Republic. I got this dress on a whim a few weeks ago and love it! It's one of those dresses that makes you look and feel instantly put together. I absolutely adore the print. I was debating between the navy/fuchsia combo and the orange/mint combo. Ultimately, I went with the latter. Did I mention this dress has pockets? It runs true to size and as expected, a size 00P fits me well throughout. Both prints are unfortunately sold out but the solid ones are still available (take an additional 40% off with code FALL40). Outfit details: Banana Republic dress *size 00P* | WHBM mules | Quay sunglasses

SummerFloralDress_SydneysFashionDiary

Friday, September 2, 2016

Prada Card Holder :: Wear & Tear

For this week's handbag chit chat, I wanted to review an item that belongs to my husband. He bought this Prada card holder last April in Rome and have been using it every single day. I thought it'd be fun to show you the current wear and tear after 1.5 years of heavy use.

ReviewPradaMenWallet_SydneysFashionDiary

- The leather still looks brand new. That's one thing I love about saffiano leather. It is pretty much scratch resistant, durable and so easy to clean. I inspected the wallet carefully and no rubbing or peeling on the corners at all.
- He has 2 cards in each slot and all slots are still nice and tight (but easy to get in and out)
- Stitches are all intact and there are still no hanging threads.
- Since he carries his wallet in his back pocket, it bends and molds to the curves of the credit cards.
- Slots have collected a bit of dirt from the credit cards but a damp cloth would do the trick
- No color transfer whatsoever