Waved Good Bye~

While people are still busy looking for asymmetric dipped drape hem chiffon skirt...

I have waved good bye to my maroon red asymmetric dipped drape hem chiffon skirt last weekend!

Photographer: Ivan Yeo (Husband)

This was my style last december and i realized that people are just getting quite into it. Like being in the trend, I prefer being ahead of it. So last weekend, i wore it out for the last time and 'bye~' i'm moving on to my next BIG thing!

Stay tuned to know what is coming up next!

Real or Fake?

With the huge market out there, how do you tell the real from the fake? And when does it really matter to you?

Many people ask me from time to time, how to differential an item's authenticity. But my question back to you is, does it matter to you? There are things that i feel you should NEVER get a fake, but yet there are some things that does not really matter to me! So what's the guidelines to this?

For me, i am simple. The 3 NEVERs!
- I will NEVER buy huge brands items from unknown source if it will get me fined while entering the main shop, if i happened to be cheated into getting a fake. I will just get them from the original stores.
- I will NEVER buy food supplements, medication or consumable items that are to be eaten, from unknown sources because this can literally kill me if they are not made with the correct prescriptions.
- I will NEVER buy skincare products like cream or serum that are to be used on the face from unauthorized shops, because i will not want to sacrifice my face, just to test the authenticity of the items.

Apart from the 3 NEVERs, i think the rest of the following are fine with me.
Things like perfume - I choose it according to the scent from the bottle and not just the brand, so assuming that the scent I chose did not go wrong. Then I feel it won't kill me if it so happened that it is a non-authentic piece. At most, the scent may not last as long as the originals.
Eye shadows - There have been some commotions about the authenticity of some eye shadows in the market, like the common one is the Urban Decay Naked Palette. But the main thing in choosing a eye shadow is often the shades, so if i like the shades i buy them, and i guess the authenticity is not the main issue with me. But i have to add, a good authentic foundation base is very important!
Clothes - According to the chart we did previously, if you are not someone who goes purely for brand i think you won't really mind if they are authentic cause very often we are going for a certain trend or design. However if you are particular about the brand then my advise is to go to the authentic stores. As for me, i goes for the design and style, if i like it, brand and authenticity does not matter to me. But if i don't, even if it is a 100% authentic branded item at a great discount, i will not get it.
Shoes and accessories - I think my stand for shoes and accessories are the same as clothes, if i like it, i buy it. Not for the brand, but for the design, style and quality! Things without brand or non-authentic can be of great quality too!
Makeup brushes - Quality is very important to me. There are many brush brands out there that produces really expensive but bad quality brushes while some without a brand can be of great quality! Personally i have a 32 pieces M.A.C Make up brush set i got online some time back, even though some people may say that i might have been cheated, but because they are of great quality, smooth and soft, i love them alot! They are of such good quality it is comparable to the authentic ones! The question is, does authenticity of such item matters to you just because of the brand? To me, i simply loved them and would even recommend them to my friends and to you!

Am i saying that i support the production of non-authentic items? No.
Yet, to some things, i feel what is more important is that i like them, i do not really care about authenticity. What is the point of getting something authentic, that you do not like? But then again, i have my rules when it comes to authenticity, my 3 NEVERs!

I set my own priorities and i am careful to guard them myself. You can do it too!

Make them well

All of us love our nails to look beautiful so that we can put on the latest nail colors out on the street, with our open toes shoes that gives people a nice view of our nail design!

However, it is common nowadays for people to experience nail disorder but yet most of the time, they are left embarrass of their toes. Instead of looking for solutions, some end up stop going to manicure or pedicure services so that people will not find out about their problems.

Without proper care, these conditions will eventually become worse! Do you have nail problems that look like these? Or someone you know, is having nail problems?

These are some of the nail infections and disorders, caused by bacteria, fungus, mold, yeast and viruses. It may sound a little scary but there is always a solution to everything!

Recently i had a friend who is having this problem so i went to search out for solution for her and i came upon a this item known as the Dr. G Clear Nails. Some of you might have heard of this but did not try it, this is really good!

Dr. G Anti-fungal active agent found in this solution, that kills bacteria, fungus, mold, yeast and viruses. It uses a patented delivery system that penetrates to the site of infection without using harsh acids, alcohols and carries no odor. Because of this patented delivery system, there are also not a need to remove your nail polish, acrylic or gel nails during application! This is tested and proven by doctors and salons. You just need to apply it twice a day around the entire nail, over your cuticle area and under the free edge of your nail.

Retail price for an authentic piece is US$27. I would like to extend this to help as many people as possible. So if you are having problems with your nails, do not know where to get this, have difficulties getting this item or this item is not sold in your country? Just leave me a feedback or comments with your personal email address, i will contact you through your email. This is not about business, but a solution. I will bear the shipping charge to send it to wherever you are! The shipping fees will be considered a little gift from me to you.

You are important because you deserve it!

Unfolding Chapter!

As i unveil a new category, beauty and wellness guides! Be more informed about your skin and body, how to take care of it and tips on looking your best! Find out more in our bi-daily issue! Feel free to leave your comments on questions or topics you would like me to talk about in my next post! Your feedback and suggestions are very important to me!

In the world, there's no ugly people but lazy ones, you can look great too!

Which comes FIRST

Knowing yourself is the first step towards success!
This is a very simple and easy exercise. Basically, it is already naturally in us, but it is important for us to know it at the tip of our fingers!

Below, there are 5 categories. Base on these categories, write down a number between 1-5 beside each of them, ranging from 1 being the least important to you, to 5 being the most important.

There are some shoppers tight with budget, who simply follows the latest trend and get the cheapest item along that trend. Smart shops will have a category catering to this group of people by selling really simple designs or easy to make fashion with that latest trend, and selling them at really great prices!

There are also those high and mighty, who goes for the brand names! Regardless of designs and trends, these people look for the branding behind the items, willing to pay any cost for it. Intelligent shops come out with really high brand setting, marking up their prices to look really classy, to cater to these group of people!

The fashion dressers, who searches for the unique and of the uncommon! They go for things that are not sold in bulks or of huge quantity all over the world. Their eyes are fixed on the Limited Edition pieces, where they can turn up at an event, knowing that no one else will dress the same! They do not follow trends blindly, but with a touch of their own style and may even have a mind of their own. Only shops that sells the unique will draw them in to take a look and explore further. They may or may not be able to pay too high a price to get the piece they want, but they will definitely keep them in mind. An impression formed, is an item considered sold!

Most shoppers are the mid rangers, they want to be fashionable and yet trendy without spending high prices. Going to the malls just to get something they think is really fashionable, among the latest trend. This is where shops have the mid range designs where there are simple designing and detailing, according to the latest trend. This range usually consist of a wide mid range prices and are designed in the bulk.

To cater to different groups of people and different demands, different items are made of different quality and set at a different branding to meet those needs. What is it that you are looking for?

No one knows you better than you do!

Caught Online Again?

Trying your best to stay out of the malls over the weekends? But yet, unknowingly got caught online by some online shopping sites and sales or advertisements sent to your email? With the updating of online security, people are now less worried, instead beginning to feel really safe to purchase things online.

Online shopping can be very tempting and addictive! Especially auction sites or sites where items are selling really fast! As the clock is ticking... your hearts are pounding... items are selling... it end up causing you to make decisions without really thinking through them. Unlike shopping where you can hold on to an item you spotted and walk around the shop till you finally decides to buy it, online shopping can cause impulsive purchases of things you do not need or are not even you size! At the click of your fingers, money are leaving your pocket faster then when you actually shop in the malls!

There is no way to 'stop' yourself from online shopping all together. But if you really want to stop it all, you can try canceling your credit cards, banning all online transactions or even pay engines like paypal accounts. However, if you know you cannot do the above then the next best thing is to prevent impulsive purchase or buying things that does not even suit you or your size!

Here are 7 tips to online shopping with WISDOM!!
1) Stay away
From auction sites, if you really have to, do not view items that are 'ending soon' first. This will prevent the first gate of impulsive buying just because the item is 'ending soon'. There maybe better deals out there for consideration, then just jumping into the purchase of that item. Also, stay away from 'bidding' for an item above its cost or what you are willing to pay for just because someone else is increasing the 'bid'.

2) Take your time
Make sure you take your time to look around before deciding. One way is to add items to 'wish list' or 'shopping bag', WITHOUT making the payment immediately. Continue shopping till you are sure that there is nothing else better than all those you have selected.

3) Know your size
Especially when it comes to shopping for clothes or shoes, know your sizes very well before your purchase. Just like in the malls, you never know whether it fits till you try them and they often look different from how it looks on the rack. Be sure that the item will fit you and ensure that the materials and fabric of the item stated is the same as how it looks. Items can look very different on photos due to lightings and color calibrating of the individual computers.

4) Count the cost
Look through all the items you have chosen to remove those you don't really think you need or like. Calculate the total expenses and check if the amount is within your shopping budget for the month.

5) Shipping cost discounts or free shipping
Make sure you check out the shipping cost before making payment. You need to know if you will be entitled to free shipping or other promotions available. However, DO NOT fall into the trick of purchasing like '$20' more just so that you can save '$10' off the shipping price! Buy only what you need and what you can afford! If shipping cost is too high, then you might want to reconsider if the item is worth the price you are paying altogether.

6) Inconvenient yourself
Lastly, just before you make the payment, make yourself walk a distance to take your credit card so that while walking the distance or getting away from the computer a little, can give you time to make sure that is really what you want!

7) Keep records
After making the payment, you should now keep a record of the things you have purchased, color and sizes, so that you can be sure that what you receive is what you have paid for. At the same time, this record will also serve as a reminder to the budget you have spent and have left for shopping the rest of the month!

This is just the beginning half of the month, so spend and shop wisely!

Wait, No More!

Tried walking up and down the stalls again and again to look at the same item? To realized that it is sold the time that you went there for the last time to purchase it?

Many times we try to control our spending by walking up and down the streets, round and round the malls, the same day, the day after. Telling ourselves "maybe we don't need it?", "i will come back for it another day!" or "maybe next month then buy".

Looking back at all the 'lost opportunities', i have learnt. There are somethings that if we cannot decide at that moment, maybe we don't really need it or want it. But if you still think of it after walking around, we should not hesitate to go back for it!

One way to make sure you don't miss it, is to walk around window shopping. Set aside 30 minutes of the time you have before you plan to go off, to walk back to all the shops to get the things that is still on your mind. You will realize that almost 50-60% of the items you 'Keep.In.View' earlier are no longer on your mind and there are this 30-40% of the items that are still constantly recording in your memories. The right thing to do is to then evaluate the amount of money you have, whether they are within your budget. If not, get only the first few items that still comes to your mind despite all. You will realize that, you never regret getting them! In fact, you will be glad that you did!

Wait No More! I know that feeling because i am a shopper too!

Trend in Style

Many shoppers falls into the trap of being a trend followers. Every time we hit the malls, we look out for the latest trend and try our best do grab something in trend. Some shoppers are even willing to spend hundreds or even thousands to revamp their cupboards with all the most updated trends in the malls. If you happen to be one of them, and you cannot resist but to fall into this trap time and again. Then take some time to stop and think. Are you following a trend for the sake of a trend? Is this really your style?

Why not just dress your style and set the trend instead?
A girl simply walked into an event with a bright neon pink dress that is her style, looking really gorgeous attractive, started a new trend. Where people swarm to get neon colors and as the demands increases, it became the latest trend and it pushes the previous trend off.

Walking into the malls with a Shopper's Mind, i saw how shops selling neon colored clothes and how shoppers are buying them off the racks. Some design are really simple and plain while some may even fall into the category of being ugly, of poor quality but yet many trend followers simply grab them because of the color and it's in trend. Are you losing your style, through the years of following trends? It's time to think of your real style, clothes that really fits you and make you look attractive! I know it's hard to 'stop' and 'think' in the midst of a shopping spree, so do the thinking before you start!

I know how you feel because i am a shopper too!

Welcome to J'aime!

This blog previously known as Shopper's Mind, is created with the shoppers in mind, where i will be talking about different issues shoppers may face and provide you with some really good solution options here! Stay tuned for our bi-daily issues coming your way. If there are areas or problems you are facing or you would like us to write on, feel free to write to us!

I know you best, because i am a shopper too!