"I think it is in collaboration that the nature of art is revealed." - Steve Lacy

The line between performance and design is fast becoming blurred, and nowhere is it more prominent than in fashion when fashion labels collaborate with celebrities for limited editions or lines unique to said collaborator's style. Examples can be seen from street fashion i.e. Kate Moss for UK label Topshop to luxury high end fashion i.e. Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton.

Entre nous, I think the above are highly overrated and I really don't see the big deal about either of the collections. Hardly avant garde or gush-worthy.

However, I am quite excited to see the new collaboration between Christina Aguilera for Topshop and I do prefer Sofia Coppola's creations for Louis Vuitton over Stephen Sprouse :

Sofia Coppola with the SC bag in calf leather
The Sofia Coppola Collection

I like that Sofia Coppola has chosen to feature the bags in unusual colours like russet and cobalt, which are wearable yet not too commonly pedestrian.

“The pink sheep of the family.” - Alexander McQueen

Growing up, I never was a girly kinda girl, and memories of childhood consist of being dragged through the girls' department in the shopping mall and being made to try on dress after frilly dress by an aunt who insisted on one for my birthday each and every year.

And like every single rebellious teenager, I rebelled and stubbornly refused to wear skirts and dresses and staunchly hung on to my cords and jeans. My mother used to exclaim, "You'll never find a husband dressed like that!", although the connection between sartorial and spouse I never quite got, even to this day.

Anyway, to her utmost relief, I grew out of that phase and decided I quite liked dresses afterall. Well, not only because they were kinda pretty, they also appealed to my practical 'slip on and go' approach to dressing, instead of having to puzzle over coordination. Also, I was too lazy to iron two pieces of clothing instead of one.

Neither was I into the color pink. Although I admit to owning several items of pink clothing, it's hardly one of my favorite colors. The color pink seemed to scream of abject kawaii-ness, and brought with it visions of Hello Kitty and various other unpleasant saccharine associations.

However, I realised that if said item was in hot pink as opposed to pastel, it was an entirely different game :

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania dress

In the spirit of pink and on the subject of lesser-known labels in my previous post, I also actually really like this tote bag :

Lancel Premier Flirt

Now, I have a rather romanticised relationship with Lancel.

Years ago on my maiden trip to Europe, my bag decided to break.

On Champs Elysees. In the middle of a downpour. In front of Lancel.

So I took it was a sign from above and went in and bought my first quality leather bag.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

"You ask, What's in a name? I answer, Just about everything you do.” - Morris Mandel

I am not a large tote bag kinda girl.

I know, there are plenty of people who would happily list the merits of a large tote bag, how one can throw everything in and become a glamorous modern day nomad/girl-about-town. Agreed, but I prefer to travel light so I don't usually carry much short of the essentials and I find a larg tote bag kinda gets in the way and weighs me down especially when I'm running (buses, trains, sales) or when I'm trying to squeeze into a limited space (buses, trains, sales). I typically prefer smaller bags such as shoulder bags, satchels, hobos and clutches.

However, I've noticed pretty much every woman and her grandmother carrying a large tote bag, and the most common ones appear to be the Neverfull and the Le Pliage. Tres tres boring, ladies! The lack of individuality and creativity depresses me. They look so inordinately ordinary! Some have championed the St Louis as slightly more unique and fashionable, but if you ask me it's only 'cos it's not as commonly available as the other two.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull

Longchamp Le Pliage

Goyard St Louis

Anyway, out of curiosity, I surfed onto the Longchamp website and found out one can actually create a bespoke Longchamp bag! OK so I'm a sucker for all things bespoke, and before anyone I could say Anya Hindmarch I was happily clicking away at the colours for my imaginary Longchamp bespoke tote.

One can even choose the metallic hardware with the options of emblazoning one's initials as well as embroidering one's name on it. There's nothing like a bag with one's name on it to say "Mine, hands off!" Hmmm I might just consider getting one if that's the case. Yeah, I know, sucker.

And of course, I would never ever say non to this darling :

Bottega Veneta Cabat

“I have a trunk containing continents.” - Beryl Markham

The Centenary Collection

The Orient Collection

The 2008 Limited Edition : CANDY

Am uber in love with Globe-Trotter's hand made luxury travel trunks. Never mind that they're prolly not as practical and abuse-friendly as my trusty but pedestrian red Samsonite two-wheeler ... they're sooooooooo GORGEOUS!!!

They would go so well with my private jet and personal porters.