My favourite things (and apologies)

First, I'd like to apologise for my absence from this blog. It's been four months or eternity in blog years. I hope I haven't disappeared into thin air. But in any case, I'm back and hope to post more often.

I thought I'd post a few of my favourite things: they're the little things that cheer me up, amuse me, something I can think about when I happily have nothing better to do. They are not big purchases, but rather things acquired on a whim 'just because'.

Recently, I've been getting into the whole aromatherapy/scent/fragrance business. I didn't used to pay much attention to scent, and I still don't think aromatherapy is all it's marketed to be. But sometimes, you come across something and it's like breathing in magic. Magic because you stop for a moment and imagine what it could be. It's quiet luxury:

Jo Malone Cologne. Very simple and wearable. This is not the complex, enigmatic perfume, which suits me just fine because I'm not the complex, enigmatic person. You could try layering different ones, but I prefer wearing one only. My favourite is the nectarine & honey blossom. I smell perfectly ripe nectarines in the warmth of summer. I don't mind smelling like fruit if it's delicious.

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. Intense woody, herbal smell. What you smell in day spas. I bought a pump bottle when looking for something to keep in the bathroom. Due to my innate desire to match everything, I also bought a pump bottle of hand wash. Yes, I can hear you say, it's just hand cream and hand wash for god's sake! But favourite things need no justification.

Chanel Le Vernis - Paradoxal 509. I love nail polish. You can wear whatever colour and (usually) get away with it because it's such a small part of the body. Red nails say, I am fiery and passionate, even when the overall dress is conservative. This particular shade, paradoxal, is so beautiful. It's taupe/grey/purple depending on the light conditions - the colour changes, there is no way of describing it. It's really very elegant and moody, which is perfect for winter. In fact, I loved the entire Chanel fall 2010 makeup collection because it's exactly what I picture cold weather makeup to be.

Right now I am lusting after this pair of Chanel sunglasses. I saw it on Privilege. Read this blog if you have the time - it's beautiful prose written by a genuinely nice person. I don't know where I can get it or if it's even available here, but if I find it, I suspect I'll very likely cut off an arm and a leg to take it home with me. White sunglasses with pops of red and blue are too perfect.

So these are a few of my favourite things (to quote Sound of Music). They make the bad days bearable and the good days memorable.

Bag Royalty

Towards the end of the noughties, there was a distinct fashion trend of going back to tried-and-trusted classics. You could blame it on the financial crisis - people wanted to spend their money on items they knew were going to last. I would simply call it good taste.

It bags have their moment on stage, but how many times have we gone crazy for the lastest arm candy, only to find it completely disgusting and unacceptable to wear in public 6 months later? Maybe it's time to do away with the fickle, impulsive 'It' bag and rediscover the pieces that continue to take our breaths away decade after decade.

The classics are truly investment bags. Not only do their retail values rise by 10-20% every year, but they also retain good resale values. In some cases, like the Chanel classic flap and the Hermes Birkin, people often buy them at higher than retail value from resalers due to the rarity of some colours and styles (beware eBay scalpers!). If you can save up the money to buy one, this is one purchase you should not feel guilty about: true style and a financially sound investment.

Hermès Birkin

The UHG (ultimate holy grail) of bag collectors. Reportedly conceived after Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas had a chance encounter with Jane Birkin on a Paris-London flight, and as you do when you are seated next to the Hermès CEO, Jane Birkin described to him her ideal bag that she woefully could not find anywhere. Next thing she knew, a bag was made according to her specifications and sent to her (now that is good customer service!). The rest is history.

Chanel flap

Available in two styles: the reissue (aka 2.55) and the classic. The reissue is the original, unchanged design from way back when Coco Chanel wanted a bag that would leave women's hands free for other things. Amen to that! It has the plain, rectangular mademoiselle turnlock and metal chains. The classic is a modified, yet arguably even more popular design with the CC turnlock and interwoven leather chains.

Lady Dior

This isn't widely regarded as bag royalty, but in my opinion, it is timeless and stylish. Princess Diana was widely photographed with it. Apparently, she liked it so much she got it in every style and size. It is more youthful than the Hermès Birkin and the Chanel classic flap, so if you think you're still too young to own the previous two bags, this is the the one for you!