Step 1: List down what you think you’ll need (for a week’s trip).
And my list is:

- Acid wash jeans
- Distressed shorts
- Frayed skirt
- Two board shorts
- Bright frilled skirt
- Tank top in five colours
- Chiffon caftan tunic
- LBD
- Three blouses
- White oversized shirt
- Summer dress
- White tiered dress
- Maxi dress
- Sarong / pareo
- Two bikinis
- Tankini
- Maillot
- Wayfarer
- Aviator
- Three headgears
- Three sets of necklaces, earrings and bangles
- Bejewelled sandal
- Flip flops
- Espadrilles
- Ballerinas
- Straw bag
- Oversized canvas tote
- Clutch

Step 2: I was told to put aside what I’d use on a daily basis (not more than 10 items):

- Board shorts
- Tank top
- Wayfarer
- Bikinis
- Flip flops
- One set of accessories
- Oversized canvas tote.
- One headgear.
- Maxi dress
- Sarong / pareo

And my list is:

- One pair of bikinis / tankini OR maillot
- Two tops
- A pair of shorts OR a skirt
- A dress that can be worn for day or night, in my case it’ll be a white button down spaghetti strap dress
- A clutch
- A pair of bronze chandelier earrings
- A pair of bejewelled flats

PRODUCT PICTURES COURTESY OF:

MNG (BANGLES, SUNNIES, MAXI DRESS AND SCARF)

MISS SELFRIDGE (BIKINI)

A friend threw a question at me last month: "How is it affecting you and other fashion-lovers (the current economy crisis)?"
 I nonchalantly answered, "Trust me hun, girls are just oblivious when it comes to fashion, if we want it, we'll GET it".

As weeks passed by, I noticed a number of stores were marking down, or going on sales, again. Yes, AGAIN!!!! I love the word SALE! But at the same time I wondered "Sales again? Why? Wasn't there a sale last month?”
 
I had a quick, casual chat with some of the salesgirls while sourcing and to my amazement, a few lamented, "People have literally stopped shopping, Sabrina. Even with sales, girls just walk past the store, stare, and walk off".

“But what can we do about it, Sabrina? How to look fashionable without splurging? How to avoid looking boring?" I've been bombarded with the same question, not once, not twice, but a few times.
 
I came up with a quick solution to look just as cool with your existing wardrobe by adding a few items to the existing apparel:

1) Buttons: One of the easiest ways to quickly change the look of any item is to add new details. All you need is a needle and thread and you can easily replace the old and plain buttons on your item with new fun ones. I love the look of plain boyfriend cardigans with big, funky, vintage buttons. It adds something new to the piece while turning it into something one-of-a-kind.

2) Old scarves: Sew the scarf horizontally around a tube top (upper hemline). Make sure the two ends are placed in the middle i front. Once done, you can either tie a bow or wear it like a halter top. For a fancy look, just add beads or stick-on diamantè on the scarf.

3) Oversized tees: Cut-off the neckline (make sure it’s big enough) and voila-an off shoulder top for you; just throw and a waisted belt and you are ready for a night out.

4) Skinny belt: Twist it around your hand and you’ll have an edgy looking bracelet!

5) Skirts: The easiest and fastest way is to wear it as a top or a tube dress. Cinch it with a belt and layer long necklaces with this ensemble.

6) Flats: Take a meter long ribbon and tie a knot at the buckle of your flats-tie 2 strands for each leg. Then wear the flats like a laced-up flat.

7) Necklaces: Placed bangles or rings into a long ribbon or a leather strand and make it a necklace.

I am not sure if I can call myself a shopaholic but I have to admit that I’m a BIG SLAVE TO BARGAINS and I know I have friends who hate me in silence for my little fashion discovery (which by the way, costs less than my Chicken McNuggets meal!). I heart anything that says 3 for RMXX or Buy 1 Free 2 (Yes, it does exist!).It’s just TOOO irresistible although I know I don’t need it (but the heart says BUY IT SABRINA, BUY IT!) and of course, I follow what the… heart says most of the time. 

My recent trip (first time!) to Bangkok almost turned me into a pauper. I’d heard about this shopping paradise but no one had really warned me about how crazy it can get (the zillion items + good bargains). So I came up with a “THINGS TO BUY” list and I constantly reminded myself “Prioritise Sabrina. Stick to the list, get them and only buy other unnecessary items when you’ve gotten what you need”. I hit Platinum Mall (a wholesale mall) on the first day and got two of the items from my list. I smiled with utmost satisfaction. Not bad… it was cheap and I actually stuck to the list. Then I walked past little stores with “50 baht for 1 pc”, “2 bangles for 100 baht” and “1 maxi dress = 350 baht, Buy 3 = 180 baht each”. Before I realised it I had 10 plastic bags on my arms within 30 minutes and went “do I need all these items?” after I’d purchased them.

 I went back to the apartment, sat down and had a talk with… myself. I realised that it’s not only window displays and in-store music that’s seducing us (based on the CLEO August issue “Are Shops Seducing You” story) but the golden words “Good Offers” and “Bargains” really get us hooked most of the time. There wasn’t any window display, music, nice aroma or even princess treatment from the sales people yet I seriously got “seduced” in Bangkok’s markets and malls. And I noticed (not only in Bangkok but also at a few stores in our local malls):

• A good bargain attracts most shoppers and we tend to buy more than what we need. For example: “Jelly gladiators for RM10”. And you’ll go “Wah, so cheap! What colours do you have?” Before you know it you have them in all colours available in your plastic bags.
  
• Oftentimes most stores offering a good sale (e.g. RM5 or RM10) have the NO TRYING and NO EXCHANGE policy. It’s so cheap that we almost don’t bother checking if it fits us. Here’s how to go about doing it safe: If you are not sure with the size, go for stretchable fabrics like jersey viscose. And when the heart says it looks small, put it back on the rack and walk out.
  
• Most of the stores with good bargains are purposely designed small with little space for customers to walk in. The lighting is usually bright and hot, and there is no air circulation (at the most you’d find one standing fan – for the cashier). Shoppers tend to lose patience when its hot and crowded so they’ll just grab a whole bunch of items (without looking thoroughly) and buy them.