Travelog: Thebaghag does Singapore! *1st of 3 on day 1 :)*

It was extremely exciting to go on a trip with a fellow bag hag. It just spells financial disaster *muwahahaha*. But this is again a blessing– having a fellow baghag shop with you CAN in fact prevent you from making possible purchase mistakes. Of course you’d have to shop with an impartial baghag 🙂 *Thank goodness for my baghag companion MC!!*

MC was actually really heading to Singapore (then to Kuala Lumpur) for her company meeting, and had asked if I was interested to fly to Singapore for a few days. I was like, yes yes yes! BB and I had also previously planned to flying out together, but BB had some stuff to finish and had to move his travel date 🙁 *sniff awww* My DH totally wanted to join especially after we found out that the 21st was a public holiday, but it was too late– all flights were booked up 🙁 Awwwww there will be other times, and I will behave when DH is travelling with me hehee*

MC and I took Singapore Airlines– it was to be a 3hr.05min trip. (MC‘s bag is the Balenciaga city, while thebaghag brought the Goyard blue fidji) I had not slept the night before *hello insomnia* so I was really super drowsy when we hopped on the plane. Incidentally, Olay spokeswoman Dr. Pie Calayan and her family were also on the same flight (of course they travelled premier class while we were in coach :D).

We stayed at the Orchard Hotel, which is gobsmack in Orchard Road– the road of binge-purchase sin *hehe* Our room was not ready yet at the time we arrived, so we did the one thing that baghags would’ve done– leave the baggage with the bellhop and go bag hunting!!! *WOOHOO*

The first shop window we saw was that of Mulberryat the Hilton Hotel.

There also was LV (sigh, they’re everywhere *heart pounding loudly*). Their show window had the newest style, the Lockit. I’m not hot about the bag, so I know I’ll be safe from the House of Monogram 😀

We went into the Hilton. I was thinking already, this would be the perfect time for me to test-drive that Mulberry Bayswater bag since we don’t have Mulberry in Manila. And oooooh they have it in that orangey brown color (which is a better and brighter color than camel, but is still neutral enough). So MC and I walked in. She also liked the color of the Bayswater that I was eyeing. But when I lifted the bag, I was just stunned. The bag felt much heavier than an Hermes birkin in the 35cm size! I asked the kind sales associate if there was any heavy stuffing. Nope. It just had a bunch of paper in the bag and nothing else. My, my, this bag is REALLY heavy 🙁 I am very disappointed. Part of the lining of the bag is in raw leather too. I am so disappointed. Did I just prove my theory that no bag under US$1,000 is nice? 🙁 Well, thank goodness actually that I was disappointed with the bag, because it was not to my liking. My spending money is saved 🙂 *Actually, I was really good this trip and MC can seriously attest to that :D*

We passed by the colorful store of Issey Miyake. I say colorful because of this window sticker. How I wish I can afford to wear a few pieces of Issey Miyake. The clothes are in themselves, works of art. But hey, after that Balenciaga dress incident, I figured I’m better off with bags than clothes hehehe. Besides, I’d be that one person who can ruin the look of an expensive dress– no matter how expensive or “couture” a dress is, once I wear it, it ends up looking like a $9.99 outfit 😀 *muwahahaha*

Next stop: Balenciaga. Uh ooooh… *teehee I’m reminded again of my Balenciaga tag fiasco hahaha* There were all these Balenciaga bags hanging on the wall ala Aloha Rag in Hawaii (at least the last time I saw). I spied a taupe first, ink purse, khaki purse, toile city, weekend and day bags. The best yet of course were these luxurious matte crocodile bags in braise red and cornflower blue. Not for the faint hearted, they cost SG$25,000 each (and I was told they’ve been sitting prettily in the corner for some time hehehe). And yes, I touched and smelled it (THAT was the highlight of the hour, hags *hehehe so I’m pathetic, I like sniffing croc skins*). Thank goodness I didn’t develop an addiction for the Motorcycle bags or I’d be deep in debt over all those bags they had at Balenciaga. I walked out of that store empty handed 😀

We found ourselves back on Orchard Road and this time, we were walking toward HERMES. Uh…. Oh….. 😀 *I grabbed my bag tightly as we approached the store* On the shop window, was a violet suede Evelyne. I was never into this style, so this bag did nothing for me, although the color was crying out to me 🙂 *am I delusional or what? hehe* We walked into the store. I swear, this store has this invisible magnetic pull on me.

Oh. My. Gawd. They have an in-house craftsman!!!!! Even Hong Kong’s Hermes does not have a craftsman!! And Right here, they have one!! Too bad though he was sorta on “leave”, but the mere fact that we saw this table, is amazing! There were some spools of thread on the table, along with some leather tools. Too cool!!!! I’m sorry for blabbing, but I’m just wayy too amazed to find out that Hermes SE Asia has a resident craftsman! It’s a big deal to me 😀

There were also some colorful garden party bags in green, orange, and red, as well as the usual Her line canvas totes.
And on the glass shelf across the room, are the Evelyne, Plume, Bolide (in ostrich), Picotin. Notice the top right Evelyne in blue? That’s Hermes’ newest color called Blue Brighton. It’s like royal blue infused with purple. I can only imagine how gorgeous it would look on a Kelly or a Birkin *sigh wishful thinking*. The store also has 2 Kelly bags available– both are 28cm and one is dove gray (etoupe) in epsom, and the other in maroon (marron fonce) in box leather. No thanks, Mrs.T can’t afford! The price of the 28cm kelly is roughly about US$6,000 (converted from SG$).

Sigh, I can only imagine the financial damage I can do at this store if I were not so financially incapacitated. Alas, my money went to paying for the airfare + hotel *bawl*. The only thing I could afford at Hermes was the perfume– Jardin Le Sur de Nil. YES. Only a perfume *sniff*. Heck my credit cards weren’t swiped yet and they were already denied *muwahahaha*. So, obviously anything else I want in this store, would have to be wishful thinking. 🙂

The day was just beginning for MC and thebaghag— heck we haven’t even “checked- in” yet *hehehe*. Anyway I will continue my post tomorrow. There is much to do today– i.e. pay credit card bills!!! And I better hurry before the banks close on me 🙂

xo