I've been meaning to do this for a while, but never got around to it. Actually, I did blog it once, but then my browser ate the entry and I was too annoyed to tackle the post again.
Anyhoo, perhaps some of you are wondering where we three find our frocks, and at reasonable prices. I am not averse to spending on clothes, but being genetically programmed to be a bargain hunter, I'm afraid it's what I do best.
Where: You can usually find an FOS outlet in major shopping malls, like 1 Utama, Midvalley, Sunway Pyramid, The Curve...I have it on good authority though (from a friend who works there at the headquarters) that the Midvalley outlet has the best stuff. Unless you want to go to Kota Kinabalu, which is also apparently pretty awesome.
Why: A hidden gem, as Kahani would testify after her
silk Ted Baker dress find, you can find excess stock from the US featuring big brands like Gap, Ann Taylor, Bitten (the clothing line by Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker) and more. Contrary to popular belief, not all the clothes are flawed--sometimes it's only a matter of a label being sewn on backwards, or wrong sizing. Always make sure you try stuff on before you buy it, although I believe they have a one-week exchange period, with tags still on and your receipt, of course!
Price range: Anywhere between RM9.90 to RM399.90 (usually for winter coats, etc). Also, look out for their Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotions that happen twice or so a year.
Store: Two unnamed stalls at the Amcorp Mall weekend flea market
Where: Amcorp Mall is a stone's throw from the
Taman Jaya LRT station in Petaling Jaya. It's also very easily accessed from the Federal Highway--look out for the big orange/yellow building! Parking is ample, with RM2 per entry on weekends I think. Being a cheapo (hee) though, I park at the Taman Jaya park and walk over.
Why: On the first floor, there is a Chinese lady, Chia, who manages a clothing booth. Here, Kahani and I find our vintage dresses. The stuff she carries are mostly in cotton. One floor up, there are a couple of lovely Malay ladies who have a nice array of skirts and tops, and some dresses. Their stuff is more of the silky variety, with polyesters and cotton-blends. They restock every week or so, and I've been told they get their stuff mostly from Japan.
Price range: RM5 to RM15
Where: The outlet closest to me is the one a hop, skip and jump away from my office in Damansara Perdana. There is also an outlet along Jalan Telawi 3 (I think) in Bangsar, and one in SS15, Subang Jaya, though I haven't been to the other two in a while. Alternatively, you can also buy online!
Why: A cheaper alternative to high street shops like Top Shop and Miss Selfridge, Cats Whiskers has heaps of variety of trendy digs in-store--best of all, it's colour coded! During their sale season they have pretty good discounts, at prices to rival that of stores in Bangkok, which is my ultimate shopping heaven!
Price range: RM10 (during sale season) to RM99.90
Store: Cosmax
Where: Level 1, The Summit, USJ (Yes, believe it or not!)
Why:Being a Subang chick with an unhealthy dislike of trips down to Kuala Lumpur city (unless it's for work, even then this is debatable) despite the cheap shopping in Sungei Wang, this store at the (crumbling, almost dodgy) Summit in USJ offers me some options, which is better than nothing, really! The styles of clothing are also very similar to what you'd be able to find in Cats Whiskers, Bangkok in general, and the profusion of shopping blogs. At much cheaper prices. As an added bonus, there are also several other similar stores around the area.
Price range: Last I saw (during the first week of September), RM9.90-RM99.90. But Cosmax also had huge signs proclaiming "Everything RM25" but being freshly shopped out from Bangkok, I refrained.
Store: BlookWhere: There's a store on the ground floor of Subang Parade, and one in the Telawi area in Bangsar
Why: While I think some of their things are overpriced, I cannot deny that the quality is also not bad. In fact, compared to Cats Whiskers, I'd probably say the quality of garments offered here is slightly better. They also have some very lovely designs that are work safe, and other more glam pieces for going out in the evenings. It's a store I love to browse in, and every blue moon or so I treat myself to something I really love, like
this dress here.
Price range: RM25 to about RM200 (I think)
So that's my list for now, ladies! I'll add more as I find new places, and maybe throw in suggestions of places from my fave overseas stores. Please feel free to leave comments, or recommendations of your own!
Blair's penchant for pops of colours and girly, feminine dresses have me completely looked. So what if her wardrobe costs more than what I'd probably make in my entire lifetime as a struggling writer--there are always ways of emulating her style without paying through the nose!
I liked how as the seasons wore on, her dress sense became more grown up. Of course, she's pretty much always toed the preppy line; I loved how classic cuts like pencil skirts and empire-line dresses, with classy accessories like pearls and silk scarves kept on popping up.
It's also great that she dresses sexy without necessarily showing off too much skin, unlike her best friend Serena Van der Woodsen, played by Blake Lively. All in, element's of B's fashion sense is preppy yet fun, which make it ideal for a young working professional like myself.
However, given Malaysia's utterly dismal state of office fashion (if you find yourself asking incredulously, "What office fashion?" I have totally proven my point) I figure I'd better tone it down a little, so as not to give those corporate bigwigs a heart attack.
Say what you will about her character on Gossip Girl, Queen B has style. You know you love her.
