Wordless Wednesday : Stardust

Stardust iPhone case by Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bang Bang!

When Marc Jacobs came up with his signature perfume for men last year, Bang!, it's been a massive hooplas surrounding the release of the fragrance. Not just about the newly designed bottle that looks like a silver box being knocked by a hammer to its center, but also the ad campaign that features the designer himself in a very provocative shot of him posing naked, only to be covered by the massive perfume bottle in front of his manhood. So provocative that during the Fashion's Night Out last year, lots of people queue at his Marc by Marc Jacobs store in Mayfair, London just to get the free t-shirt bearing that image. I dunno what's so special about it reallly; it's not even flattering to be honest. Yikes! And when it comes to the smell of the scent, again, IMO it's not even flattering at all either. With spicy base notes of pepper and peppercorns, it smells like you've just came out from your mum's spice cabinet... eeek!

Jump into Autumn 2011, the latest fragrance is something absolutely different from its predecessor. When I was sent the sample of the perfume last week, I can automatically stamped ooh, I just love this new perfume! Named Bang Bang, this new fragrance by Marc Jacobs is less oriental spice but more to sexy sporty spice due to its fresher and much energetic appeal. I can automatically detect the citrusy smell just by the first spritz, which is confirmed by the presence of the lemon essence in its top notes, It is then wrap up afterwards with a pleasing woody aura of the sandalwood (and cashmere musk) that is quite sexy. And looking at the image of the original bottle, I can say it's quite an attention grabber due to its royal blue color.

Could this Marc Jacobs Bang Bang be a new list to be considered by my fellow Scorpions? With the citrus lemon scent in its formula - that's deff a deal-breaker to me! Oh, btw... do you know that according to the Journal of Chemical Senses, the enduring aroma of a lemon is actually a powerful secret weapon that you could wear on a date? Yeah, now you know. Just to be safe, don't go to the pantry and squeeze lemon to your body just to get that effect - wear this Bang Bang, instead, okay!  

Yellow Fever

Yellow is by far my least favorite color in the color wheel. I dunno what's about it, but there's something about the color which I quite resent. I felt the hue is a bit 'pungent', too overpowering and very attention grabbing; which can came across a bit offensive or in my face kinda thing. Looking through my wardrobe, I can confirm I have no all-yellow clothes - except for some combination with other colors, like my stripes tee from Asos and the checks shirt from Topman. Other than that, nada. [click!]

It's funny that apart from yellow being associated with youth, vibrant, joy and happiness; it is one color that symbolizes wisdom and intellectual energy. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy. And there's some opinion that you should add yellow in your life if you want;

• some clarity for decision-making;
• relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness or exhaustion
• sharper memory and concentration skills, and
• protection from lethargy and depression during dull weather.

Huh, really? Still, to me I won't be having any clothes in 'true' all-yellow. Yet to inject a sense of happiness and joy, turning a bit mellow with yellow in the accessories department is no harm instead. It's all about being discreet with the color, that's the most important!

Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Stardust' Laptop Case

My first encounter with the Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop case is exactly last year when I stumbled upon it at their store at Mount Street in Mayfair during one weekend. Sitting snugly on the shelf at the menswear section, I thought it was such a fun laptop case ever coz everything on it is like a 'monogramme'. The jumbled up letters and symbols like hearts and stars, which made it look so funky looking. I picked it up to to have a feel and have to say quite drawn to its waxy rubbery feel of the neoprene material used. [click!]

Fast forward twelve months later into 2011 - what seems to be just an encounter suddenly turned out to be an owner of it instead. Introducing, the new version of the laptop case by the label - codenamed Stardust, which came in many colors and sizes as compared to the one that I saw then. This one I have is in black, that suits up to 11-inch netbook like my Samsung N310.

The other difference between this one and the previous laptop case is the multisensory touch which seems to be missing in the new Stardust. If the previous (which I'm not mistaken is called Jumble) have that waxy rubbery as I previously mentioned, Stardust has a typical fabric feel since nylon (or maybe polyester) is used on the outer layer. Yet, the laptop cases still maintain the 'monogram' being hot-pressed throughout its body. It's quite hard to tell whether the letters tell something since they're being randomly arranged. The thing that's certain, only letters existed in 'Marc by Marc Jacobs' are the one available on it, alongside stars and hearts symbols.

This laptop case is greatly padded. And what's even better, inside it is lined with the faux-fur giving some oooh factor when you slide your hands inside. A great final touch too coz it'll further protect your netbook from harsh scratches.

To me, this laptop case is for those who's very young at heart... or for the kids and ladies, rather than the typical blokes as it looks quite girly. Since I have this one, I know who's gonna be getting this from me soon - any of my nieces who have a netbook, definitely!

Seeing Double : Eyelets Sneakers

This is a case of seeing something similar, but on different seasons. Rewind to July 2010, I spotted this eyelets sneakers at Zara which I think is pretty cool. Something quite out there for a highstreet label to do compared to the usual hi-tops that they used to produced. Very slim, and in between the eyelets are the studs to make it even edgier.

And fast forward to Spring 2011, a quite similar eyelets sneakers appeared on the designer label's shelf. It's from Marc Jacobs, which have even more fori on the body of the shoes... scattered to even the toecap. Though not as slim as the one at Zara, at least all the eyelets are fully functioning giving you variety of ways to fix the laces. Look closer then you can see that the eyelets pretty much uniformly arranged in a diagonal arrays. Cool design. And it's leather, so that's a plus!

My finding at Zara in July 2010.

Marc Jacobs leather eyelets sneakers @ luisaviaroma

You Say Classic. I Say Classical... App.

Ever since my first post that I've already bought a guitar, I've been talking about it on and on. The truth is, I'm still learning to play the instrument till today. And the other real truth is: it's DAMN hard! Harder than learning how to drive. Harder than learning Fluid Mechanics. Or even harder than designing a distillation column! (That's a word to my nephew btw, who's asking me whether he should design a distillation column or absorber for the Design Project - the Chemical Engineering stuff..lol).

And it's true. Playing guitar is so not easy. With all the chords, the frets, the strings to 'pluck'... it's mind-boggling. How you combine all the notes together that make a song - to me, that's like trying to climb Kilimanjaro. So complicated! I dunno how those people out there could make it look that easy ~ and with all the oh-so-endearing tunes that it makes.... I know there's lots of time and effort being spent on this stuff.

Anyway, for those who's a novice like me (or even less than novice!), you now have a choice on whether...

Ruch-front tee @ Asos.

Vest @ H&M

Raw denim @ Uniqlo

Wool fingerless glove @ Marc Jacobs

Studded leather cuff @ He by Mango

Neo-leather asymmetric biker jacket @ Uniqlo

iPad, in the YSL patent leather iPad case.

Brilliant isn't it? Now, for those who have an iPad, you can download the app that resembles a guitar. Codename: Classical Guitar app. And it works! With all the chords that you can scroll down to select, the strings seems to work flawlessly as if you're actually playing a real guitar! And yes, it sounds better of course as compared to how I played. Nggg...

What's more? There's also options to select whether you're right- or left-handed. Or whether you wanna do auto-pluck (so that you won't have to worry about 'recessing' the other strings in a chord). Or even to have a different frets without having to mess around with the actual 'clip'. Brilliant.

And the best part: the app is FREE!

NYFW: In Love with Marc's Satchels

At last, stylish satchels for the guys has finally arrived after this season it's been awashed with Mulberry Alexa lookalikes in the women's trend section. Seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs SS11 show in NY Fashion Week, the satchels looks very buttery soft in many color choices like tan, herbs green and taupe. I really love the first two designs which I think a modern interpretation of the classics satchels that I used to see on the street.

Also, there's some kind of progression of the designs too - from having a traditional satchel look to suddenly morphed into totes with two front pockets with a flap, and a superstylish chic fabric one in off-white.

I don't normally like Marc Jacobs bags. But these lots are an absolute exception. To me these bags are much more grown-up and sleeker version of typical Marc by Marc Jacobs that I used to have in mind. :)

[pix from gq style]