With the appointment of Johnny Coca to take Mulberry into a new direction, the brand has undergone a welcoming revolution. Not only is the brand image getting updated with a simpler, more stylised logotype and new green packaging, but most importantly the bag designs have been refreshed and streamlined.  You definitely do not feel a frumpy old man style with the new Mulberry. Minimal details and contemporary silhouettes is very reflective of Johnny Coca’s previous stint at Céline. The use of a discreet gold stamping on the new bags has a very Céline-ish flavour. But Mulberry’s heritage of their superb grained leather and classic colours are all taken into consideration despite the change. The result... a good balance of old and new. 



I especially love the new mens small leather goods. Now reduced and purge of excessive details, the silhouettes of the new collection is more compact and feels sharper. The long coat wallet is a favourite of mine. Traditionally, long wallets are thicker and more bulky. But Mulberry’s version feels slim, light and yet packs a whopping 14 card slots, 3 notes pocket and a zip coin compartment. The slots are well sized and allows your cards to slip in and out effortlessly (Very important!). The exterior comes in either Mulberry’s well-loved classic grained leather or an embossed croc polished leather, but all are lined with tactile and soft nappa! I love nappa leather, it is lighter and feels luxurious unlike other brands who usually prefer stiffer box calf.

And if you are looking for a card case that hold a good amount of cards and yet feels compact, I recommend Mulberry’s. The card case may have only 3 slots, but they are well sized to be able to hold more. I have used them for receipts as well and they maintain their shape well without becoming unsightly bulky. The snap button closure is great to secure your contents while the gorgeous grained leather exterior is timeless.

There are many other small leather goods such as a tri-fold compact wallet which is ideal for people with a lot of cards! Check out the collection in store or online at www.mulberry.com


Design ★★★☆ 
Slim, compact and functional. Mulberry undergoing this design refresh, gets a big nod from me! The small leather goods are designed with minimal silhouettes, very modern and appealing. In my opinion, they are classics in the making. They also hold more than the slim silhouette allows them to be. I also love the new discreet Mulberry branding with thoughtful design of compartments. The design indeed speak for themselves. Mulberry is known for their classic grained leather which is now softer and lighter in timeless oak, black or chocolate hues. I am a fan of soft nappa lining which makes them more exquisite. In summary, these are well-made and designed leather goods which felt more expensive than it’s price tag.

Pricing ★★★☆
Very well priced! The croc embossed leather coat wallet is SGD530 or USD380 which came as a surprise (similar long wallets from other luxury brands are usually priced over SGD700). The soft oak grained leather card case is SGD200 at full retail.  Considering the quality and workmanship, these price levels are a steal. I highly recommend getting them before Mulberry consider raising prices after the first revamped season (As seen previously at Céline). 


Ratings:
★★★★  Excellent. Highly recommended
★★★★  Great. Deserving a thumbs up
★★★★  Good. Fulfill its promise
★★★★  Mediocre. No surprises

In a bustling metropolis like Bangkok, you always feel oppressed by the overwhelming traffic, crowds and skyscrapers constantly invading your space. However, if you know where to go, there are hidden spots within the city that offers a chance to escape, chill and slow down.

When I travel to the City of Lights, Casa Lapin X26 is that escape. Casa Lapin is a popular chain of hipster cafes in Bangkok known for its inviting atmosphere, industrial loft style of high ceilings, wooden floors and red brick walls. My favourite is the branch at Sukhumvit Soi 26, a hidden gem along a quiet street but yet a short walk from EmQuartier and Phrong Phrom BTS station. (It’s on the same street as DoubleTree Hilton).

At Casa Lapin X26, the industrial loft theme carries through with aplenty large windows that brings in soothing natural light. As I have always been a fan of loft style interiors, the exposed brick wall, wooden and cast iron finishes, instantly strikes a chord. When you step into the cafe, you feel like you are transported to New York’s TriBeCa area where beautiful 19th century warehouses becomes coveted living spaces. Loft style design always bears historic details: iron, leather and wood finishes that see the passing of time create a new-old character. Casa Lapin has plenty of that flavour as the designer sourced a mix of materials and furnishings in flea markets instead of using only brand new.

While the menu may not be revolutionary, they do offer some of the most delicious breakfast selections and most importantly very good coffee. Perfect for a cozy morning cuppa and breakfast or a chill afternoon to browse Kinfolk and Frankie magazines. For me, Casa Lapin X26 also allow for some creative Instagram opportunities.

The spacious cafe compound is shared by a florist ‘One Day Wallflowers’ at the front, a hostel, restaurant and co-working space, ‘One Day Pause and Forward’ that are all connected. So be ensured that there are many unique corners to capture interesting shots. The good amount of natural light are also your allies to help craft your well composed imagery.


Ambiance ★★★★
This is one space I would replicate for my home. It’s unpretentious, cozy and filled with plenty of personality. So many areas to capture beautiful shots for instagram while allowing for quality chill time with friends. As it is located along a quiet street, the peaceful atmosphere is much welcomed from busy Bangkok. When you are finally ready to brave the crowds, the new EmQuartier mall and Phrong Phrom BTS station is just a short walk away. How much more convenient can this get:-)

(I plan to stay in the hostel’s private room in the near future. The interior spaces look very promising for great instagram shots and only accessible to guests.) 

Flavour ★★☆☆
 I wouldn’t rate the menu offerings as outstanding. They have very good coffee and barista can be cute to admire. But the menu selection is not exactly surprising. Having said that, they are tasty and worth dining in. I always go there for breakfast. Hearty cereals, egg benedict and toasts all gets a thumbs up. 

Pricing ★★★☆ 
The usual hipster cafe price levels in Bangkok. But when compared to Singapore, they are very well priced in view of the quality of food, service and atmosphere you are enjoying. (Starbucks in Singapore would probably cost more.)


Ratings:
★★★★  Excellent. Highly recommended
★★★★  Great. Deserving a thumbs up
★★★★  Good. Fulfill its promise
★★★★  Mediocre. No surprises



Casa Lapin x26
Sukhumvit Soi 26,
Bangkok, Thailand
Area: Phrom Phong
Nearest Train: BTS Phrom Phong
Opening Hours: Daily 7:30am-10pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CasaLapin/
Website: http://onedaybkk.com/home.html 

Gucci’s idea of welcoming the holiday season is unlike any other brand. Nothing with cliché white snow, festive lights and scenes of happy families and Christmas trees. Instead, the maximalist driven Alessandro Michele is giving us his unique festive vision, one inspired by the biblical Garden of Eden. Within this lush paradise 'resides' many of the mesmerising animal iconography the brand is now known for. Bags, shoes and accessories are all embellished with Kingsnakes, Bengal tigers, Birds, Bees and Horses...creating an enchanting treatment that ignites desire. I want almost everything! Wallet threatening they may all be, they are however undeniably gifts that everyone will covet.



I am particularly captivated by the serpent series. I am not a fan of reptiles, quite scared of them actually. But the brightly coloured Kingsnake print looks striking against the black grained leather or GG monogram. You somehow love and get creeped out at the same time staring at the very life-like reptilian illustration. Love the backpack (USD2390), the duffel (USD2390) and the pouch (USD750). There are also small leather goods from wallets to iphone cases for those with a smaller budget.


Santa, send me any and I will be a very happy camper for Christmas!

(Source: Gucci)

It’s disco fever at Ami! The French menswear label that is famous for sincere, style-friendly menswear is throwing us a curveball and doing a full bling sequin backpack as part of the Eastpak Artist Studio project. I loved and want it!

Ever since its launch in 2010, Eastpak Artist Studio has inspired a breath-taking array of originality and artistic creativity. Offering some of the world’s most talented and creative minds a special-edition “blank” Padded Pak’r® backpack and with it, a “blank canvas” for expressing their own personal vision. This time 12 designers (from Vetements, NicoPanda to Kenzo) participated in this project to transformed Eastpak’s most iconic backpack into 12 unique works of art. And they are all doing this for a great cause... to raise much needed funds for the charity organization ‘Designers Against AIDS’.




Ami is the 6th ‘artist’ to unveil their design. Inspired by the embroidered pieces of AMI’s Autumn-Winter 2016 collection unveiled during Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Alexandre Mattiussi seeks to capture the magic of Paris – the “City of Lights” by night for his Eastpak. The blue and silver sequin is very eye catching, scene stealing. A surprise from the usual understated and wardrobe friendly pieces Ami is famous for.

“Eastpak has been in my life since I was a kid. And since the fight against AIDS is a cause we all have to keep fighting for, I’m especially proud to be a part of this project.” Alexandre Mattiussi, AMI.


This one of a kind Eastpak is a conversational piece, perfect to add some sparkle to winter blues. Or even bring to a Christmas party and be the centre of attention! Best of all, it is in the spirit of giving back to the community and do some good for the fight against AIDS. I support this! On sale in Dec 1, look out for it in Ami stores and Eastpak online. 

(Source: Ami, Eastpak Artist Studio)

Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with Christopher Nemeth is one of my favourite designs so far. I love the recognisable rope print which is graphic and bold while bearing artistic value. If you have not been able to get your hands on the limited edition collection then, fret not. There is a new series of bags featuring the distinctive Rope pattern but now in hues of blues and red, instead of white.

The Josh backpack (USD2110) is a personal favourite (Image above). The simple silhouette of the ‘East Pak’ looking design allows the Christopher Nemeth Rope pattern to stand out unobstructed from the top and bottom corners. The interesting organic shaped pattern is a good choice for the tone on tone linear checkered background. This provides good visual contrast and does not feel out of place for each other. It also helps that the contrasting cobalt blue hue of this interesting graphic juxtaposes beautifully against the grey Damier Graphite canvas, boosting the appeal of the backpack.




Besides the Josh backpack, the Rope pattern is also found on the Keepall55 (USD2310), the messenger style, District PM (USD1450), Pochette Jour GM (USD735) as well as the Christopher Backpack (USD3400) and Tadao (USD2100) but in red. The collection even extends to small leather goods from Brazza Wallets to Zippy coin pouches. (In-stores now, so check them out!)
I don’t know about you... but I am definitely putting the Josh backpack on my Christmas wishlist!!

(Image source: Louis Vuitton, @PaoloStella Instagram)

For the first time in my blog’s history, I am bringing my love for interior design as a content feature. I always believe being stylish does not just stop at clothes and bags. I support the idea of looking good in all aspects of one’s life. So living spaces, design, technology, food and aptitude for travel/adventure are all crucial to complete true stylish living.

Home style is as important as personal style. There is simply a disconnect between dressing up with all your designer wares in front of your friends and then return home to an uninspiring space. Your home should also be a platform to express who you are and what you love.
Since I have been doing a ‘myMANybags Interiors Friday’ feature on my instagram for a while (Albeit inconsistently lately. Apologies), so it is natural that I should carry through my curation of inspiring spaces as a blog feature. For this first edition, I want to share with you inspirations for the most intimate space a person can have. The Bedroom. Winter is the perfect time to spruce up the bedroom, get ready for nesting cold weather strikes. So what makes a cosy, masculine bedroom in my books? It’s soothing neutral tones (Greys or navys), wood finishes and classic textures and patterns. For an additional winter touch, use bedding to introduce plaids, wool throws and lots of pillows to make your sleep space even more inviting.

So... what sort of bedroom guy are you?

Minimalist is a great theme. Uncluttered and always looking comforting and clean. But remember this aesthetic can get clinical, so it is important to add warm touches in the form of wood tones, pattern or plant life to liven up the space. (Lots of concealed storage is imperative to make this space livable while looking sparse.)


Modern Rustic is one of my favourite interior styles. There is a mountain lodge and hunky lumberjack fantasy going for me with this theme. Use mid tone woods, fur textures and earth tone bedding and homewares to create a balance feeling of nature and contemporary design. I will recommend keeping the colour scheme to a more subdued palette of muted browns, whites, greys and black for maximum effect. Touches of metallic or brass furnishes will bring some sparkle and keep things interesting.

Scandinavians are well loved for their pure, fuss free designs. They always bring in a touch of the natural to connect their minimal, graphic style. Use lots of whites or pastel to create an airy feel. Slightly dishevelled, nothing pretentious with a true live in aesthetic is fundamental for the Scandinavina look. Finally, introduce plants and graphic furnishes (be in wall pattern or framed art) to injects character and an artsy attitude for more colours and visual contrasts.
We are what we live and breath in. Hope you guys will find inspirations with my feature. Most importantly, decking up your bedroom proper (besides creating a comfortable environment to sleep in or ‘roll in the hay’ with someone else:-P), gives you the perfect backdrop to take sexy instagram pics like what Paolo Stella did. So what are you waiting for? Go spruce up your winter-ready bedrooms today!

Balenciaga’s runway featured ‘Bazar Shopper’ is one of the most controversial bags for the season. You either love Demna Gvasalia’s guts to charge luxury prices for a very pedestrian-inspired design or frown upon his lack of effort.

No matter which sides you choose, the Bazar Shopper is a hit. Selling out on many websites and stores is a good indication of the popularity of this statement bag. However, for me, I cannot see myself braving the streets nor investing over SGD1.5K in a bag which may or may not survived this current season. Hence, I opted for the Bazar Pouch which still bears the same striking stripes while being more accessible in price. And I am glad I made that choice. 


Upon receiving my Bazar pouch, the first impression is how impressed I am with the ultra bright leather colours. The signature distressed lambskin used typically on Balenciaga’s Arena bags, is dyed with amazing colour intensity. I am a fan of this Balenciaga leather as the visible graining and ‘cracked’ texture adds aplenty of character. Meticulously stitched strip by strip to form the colourful graphic pattern, this technique no doubt justifies its ‘luxurious’ price tag. At a size of 34.5cm (13.6”) wide and 24.3cm (9.6”) tall (slightly larger than A4), the pouch can hold magazines and iPads easily, while the gusset sides help to accommodate thickness without suffering unsightly warping. The smooth running 2-way zippers is a joy to use, making retrieving contents a breeze from any sides. Because the colours and design is so outstanding, I am happy the branding is done discreetly as a foil stamp on the front. While the black cotton lining is debatable with regards to high-end finishing but it helps to control the weight and practical to resist stains. So I have no issues with this material choice. Only complain I have is the very slim inner silt pocket which is somewhat redundant. I would prefer it to have a slight depth so you can place more substantial things like keys or mobile phones.


Design ★★★★
This is a striking clutch bag. Instantly recognisable and yet a joy to hold in your hands. Lightweight, roomy with just the right proportion. I can attest to the bag’s  well balanced functionality and appeal. With the very positive response in terms of sales for Fall Winter  2016 pieces, the Bazar collection now comes in new colours for pre-spring 2017 (See above pic). This goes to show the design is here to stay... at least thru to next summer.  So hurry, get them before they sell out again!

Pricing ★★★☆
Being ingenious to replicate the stripe pattern of a cheap laundry bag in a luxurious leather scores good points with me. I like design twists.  And the craftsmanship and quality speak for themselves. Compared to similar bags in the same level of design and construction, Balenciaga is a steal. Cross fingers, they don’t raise their pricing because of the strong demand. (MatchesFashion.com sells out in the FW2016 colours and the new Pre-spring 2017 versions as well!)

Ratings:
★★★★  Excellent. Highly recommended
★★★★  Great. Deserving a thumbs up
★★★★  Good. Fulfill its promise
★★★★  Mediocre. No surprises