Furniture - Kenneth Cobonpue

Not sure if I am allowed to post the link but if I have all the money in the world and a big house, I will fill them all with Kenneth Cobonpue furniture!!!

http://www.kennethcobonpue.com/

Sadly, I don't have neither....

My favorite is still the (1) Croissant chair - reminds me of some resulting advanced mathematical formula!! haha and

(2) Wave Dining table - looks unbelievably classy, almost got one custom made here for our flat here in Singapore but the glass top was too dangerous for my young girls then. 

Yeah, right! - I just balked at the price tag then.  But now, Cobonpue is even more famous in Hollywood after the Voyager bed purchase of Brangelina his furniture pieces just skyrocketed even further out of my reach, Damn!!!

Our Boracay Vacation

Boracay Beach...no. 1 in Asia, no. 2 in the World (according to TripAdvisor.com)

My Shoe Story

Doing some spring cleaning and decided to 'color code' the shoes.  Took photos of the shoes to easily access them from the shoe boxes from the outside.  As I took photographs, realized there were a lot of stories behind each pair.  Here are a just a few of them:

(1)  Sperry Topsider - When I was growing up, we were too poor to get this one then.  Recently, I started to notice boat shoes started making a comeback!!!  I can't believe it.  It's like reliving my high school :-)

First, I did not think it was such a nice idea but when all the big brands (including Zara, Gucci, see below) started launching them in their lines then I thought I they must be serious. 

But if I am going to get a boat shoe, it has to be THE boat shoe which is Sperry Topsider - this is the one I know when I was in high school which was the coolest shoe then.

Decided to get the pure, classic one!   This is from Zappos at US$ 60.  Great purchase,  hassle-free.  Highly recommended website.

Remember the rule when wearing them:  NO SOCKS!

(2)  Ralph Lauren Croc Sandals

- This one is interesting.  I ordered for a Ralph Lauren Canvas Sneakers online in their website.  When the shipment arrived this is what showed up!!!

(2)  Espadrilles - This is another high school story redux!!!  Trends in the 80's being revived now - unbelievable.  Of course this one was cheap then and also cheap now.  Had a cream colored one.  Opted for this one from Topshop at S$ 29.

But I still find it amusing that the shoes I used in high school are being reused again now...

(3)  Paul Smith - Always thought one needs to have at least 1 Paul Smith shoes in his shoe cabinet.  Got this from a Barneys Warehouse sale in New York at US$60!!!  Perfect sizing.  Great bargain.

 (4)  Prada Leather shoes - got this from the Prada outlet in Florence for just S$ 400 after VAT refund.  Great bargain if you get a chance to go to that store.  Sneakers can be as low as S$ 200!!! - sigh, why did I not get one??

(5)  Onitsuka Tiger - seems to be the choice of the 'young' generation so I still want to be 'in' so got this one when I purchased my Sperry from Zappos.

(6)  Abercrombie & Fitch slippers - my size of their slippers is small; always out of stock whenever I am in the States; guess where I found this?  at their outlet in Milan!!

(7)  Prada sneakers - My first Prada shoes bought for around HK$ 2,000  more than 5 years ago in HK I still wear them up to this day...

(8)  Gucci sneakers - My favorite among all my Gucci sneakers; also bought from HK

(9)  Gucci Leather loafers - A truly, classic, timeless, iconic leather shoes.  My go to shoes if I have any formal occasion to attend.  Bought years ago but never goes out of style.

(10)  Tod's Loafer Weekender - bought for around US$120 from Woodbury Commons NY; if I am in my khaki shorts for brunch or sunday movies with my kids then this is my partner or.....

....my newly rediscovered SPERRY TOPSIDER BOATSHOES!!!!!!!!

WOW

An issue that a Panerai enthusiast should not miss...

For this croc and sharkie strap, can you guess...

...how much these straps cost?

DRUMROOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Each cost less than US$ 50!  But they look like more than US$ 100 each to me.  They would pass at least 70% that of an OEM.

These are PANATIME straps.

Needed 24 mm spring bars for my 44 mm Panerai .  Tagged along these straps to save on shipping costs to Singapore.  But was quite surprised with the quality and the make of the straps.  Don't know about durability yet but they sure look they will last and given the number of straps I have.  Well, I hope they would...Way better craftsmanship from some other makers I have seen that cost me a bomb (shocking I would say.  I would not buy those even from a tourist shop.)

I need more tubes and some ladies sized straps for my wife so I am ordering more from them!!!  Their customer service is top notch - they respond super fast and their international shipping just takes I think 3-4 days using FEDEX. 

If you have any quality issues with their straps, post them here or give some feedback.  Thanks.

iPhone case

After I lost my old iPhone case, decided had to get one.  Good that my friend was on his way to Europe so he was able to pick up one for me.  The 20% VAT refund makes it cheaper there than Singapore.

Here is what he got for me - one of the best in leather around.  Hmmmmm.....it reeks of smell of real the real thing.  Savouring it while lasts haha.  Understated and classy. 

I like the dark brown - matches with the brown straps of my Panerai - hahahaha.  Though they do have those nice new colors that our wives would surely like.

Note though in terms of fit this case does not 'hug' the iPhone unlike other cases.  And you still need to take out the phone which is still a minor hassle.  Don't know why Bottega or Gucci could not think of making a flip top model!! Paging Pinault Printemps Redoute (PPR)!!

Gunny Caitlin 2

Gunny Caitlin 2 on my PAM 359

I like the SUPER THICK BUT SUPER SOFT strap - it's almost unbelievable that the 2 can be combined!!!!

 Note I had my initials stamped!!!!!!  If that is not personalised I don't know what is - highly worth it for the price I paid for this strap and it's accurate to the millimeter.  And Peter is very responsive...so the LONG wait is worth it.

(Sorry for the poor pics - not a pro in this front)

David Lane

My David Lane Straps.....


THE FRENCH AMMO

THE SWISS AMMO

THE BRIDLE LEATHER IN BLACK

The SOLID mahogany wood casing that comes with each strap is reaaaaaaallllyy cooooooolll!!!!

I now have 3 of them which I can use to store my other straps :-)  Shall I order more David Lanes then haha