Ready for summer holiday with Gaston Luga Backpack

Sponsored

Being a serial wanderluster, a functional yet stylish backpack is a godsend. However, practicality and style hardly goes together...at least not for backpacks. Right? That's what most people would think.

Not after I met Gaston Luga.

Gaston Luga is a Swedish label which showcases an array of Scandinavian minimalist backpacks made for the trendy traveller who doesn't wish to lose that touch of elegance.

http://gastonluga.com/sg/

Gaston Luga is not the actual name of the designer - Carl Sundqvist is. The story behind the very first Gaston Luga backpack is really interesting - you'd never expect it was remade from a Louis Vuitton! Read more HERE.

My Style Pick: GASTON LUGA Pråper Pink

Comes with a dustbag

Created from leather and high quality cotton, Gaston Luga backpacks come in different styles, sizes and colours. Functional features such as a pocket specially designed for things needed to be easily accessible yet kept safe (i.e. passport, cash) are also details that make the backpacks extremely practical. In addition, leather address tags for the backpacks are also available in 10 different colours, so you can mix & match to complete your unique backpack.

Here are some closeup details of my Pråper Pink..

 This is where you can secretly stash some cash, hidden from the public eye while travelling. Safety uncompromised!

There are two compartments inside - one for laptop, another one to fit 

a passport, air tickets, keys or other small important items.

 Very tough and high quality parts of the bag.

 Adore the gold details coupled with the pink colour! Flawless combi.

  

I couldn't wait for my next overseas trip to use it, so I took my Gaston Luga out to a date by the jetty! Perfect place to chill & do some work.

 The pantone sunset almost matches my backpack! Haha!

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FAITHY's READER DISCOUNT CODE: <fvtable15>

Prices you see on http://gastonluga.com is NOT final. If you're a Singapore shopper, you can enjoy:

• FREE DHL SHIPPING TO SINGAPORE (Reached me within 2 days!)
• 20% off as tax rebate (from non-EU country) 
• 15% off with my unique code "fvtable15"

My Pråper Pink reflects as SGD319 on the site; but in reality, it only costs SGD216.92!

(A whooping $102.08 deduction if you're shipping your backpack to Singapore and if you USE MY CODE!)

Happy Shopping, lovelies! Travel the world, looking happy & pretty! 

Quick Personal Updates - More Travel, Beauty, Lifestyle posts upcoming in 2017!

Hello from New York, Times Square!

It's the third week of 2017, and I realised I haven't greet you lovelies properly. Happy New Year, Everyone! May the new year bring forth more abundance and goodness to you who's reading this!

Just some quick updates of what's going on with me and with Faithy Vanity Table for this upcoming first quarter of the year....

New Year Trip to New York City

As you probably already knew (if you're on my Instagram/Facebook), I kick-started 2017 with a trip to New York City. Experienced the first snow storm of my life and man...it was freezing my pants off but the scenery was really beautiful!

Also made a day trip to Brooklyn to take some pretty shots. More photos and New York travel information & tips will be posted on the blog soon-ish! (After I take care of some blog backlogs.)

Holiday Haul from New York

These are my fashion & beauty haul from the trip. I didn't pick up a lot of beauty products simply because Singapore has them at cheaper or equivalent prices. Our Singapore currency is weaker than the U.S., so the same stuff in Sephora Singapore are likely to be cheaper than in US.

From the above pic, you can gather than I chose mostly stuff that has yet to launched in Singapore Sephora. I will be selecting some to review before they are available for sale in Singapore - hope this helps you with your purchasing decisions! Let me know your product requests. ;)

I definitely will be doing more detailed reviews on Too Faced Sweet Peach Collection and Guerlain Happy Glow Spring 2017 since they are confirmed to be launched in Singapore. In fact, Guerlain has already launched and my review will be up on the next blog post!

I haven't been participating in many media events in the month of January since I was away for the most part; and I also need time to attend to my personal/family matters... However, I attended bloggers/influencers dinner gatherings with some of my favourite beauty brands. Pleased to know that more makeup & skincare will be launching soon in Singapore this Spring!

Upcoming Beauty Launches in Singapore

Keep a lookout for L’Oréal Makeup Designer Paris NEW launches. This time round, besides the 24K gold lipsticks everyone was swooning about, L’Oréal Singapore is bringing in their contour powders, eyeshadow cushion sticks and lash & brow lengthening serum! Will blog about these soon!

Remember the popular Taiwan skincare brand, famous for its cellulose mask - For Beloved One? Now, they have a sister brand with even more variations of masks for different skin types! For Beloved Girl will be launched in April in Singapore! I am holding on to some really cool masks right now, and will be reporting back to you how these new kids on the block work for me!

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Anniversary Giveaway 

to Blog Readers & Instagram Followers

Come February 2017, Faithy Vanity Table turns 2! Yipee!! Party time!! To celebrate, I will be holding an epic makeup giveaway with Maybelline Singapore. A nice hamper of full-sized products can be expected. Stay tuned at the end of January! 

Tip: Follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my blog if you haven't. Followers & subbies are the apples of my eye, hence they receive first-hand news and special rewards.

Definitely including this favourite in the giveaway!

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Short Getaway to Osaka

I will be following my partner on a short business trip to Osaka this week...work for him, play for me. Haha! So check us out on my social media platforms as we sip away our sake and savour some good ol' takoyaki.

 

Singapore Airlines - a great way to fly!

Till then, take care my lovelies and have a good headstart month to 2017!!

Confessions of a Blogger (1): Bitchiest, Funniest, Jaw-dropping Remarks Overheard at Media Events

Hi lovelies!

Thanks to my insomnia (again), I finished re-reading all of my previous blog posts and realised that I have been too focused on beauty product reviews recently and kinda lost some personal touch on this blog?

As you probably already knew, I started this blog due to passion in all things beautiful. And it will pain me (not to mention, cause me further insomnia) should I one day lose my initial fervour. Keeping things real yet diplomatic (and sometimes entertaining. Haha.) will be my lifelong pursuit…both in life and on this blog. Heh.  

#I_Sompa #ISwearOnMyTOMFORDLipstick

However, today I want to write about something more light-hearted (and slightly juicy). Having been in the bloggersphere/social media industry for slightly less than two years, I am very thankful to be blessed with many socialising opportunities at media events such as new product launches, blogger parties, fashion shows, makeup/makeover events, etc. Rubbing shoulders with celebrities, popular media & online personalities, CEOs/founders of huge beauty companies – all of this wasn’t part of the reason why I started the blog, but I guessed I lucked out to be regularly experiencing these via blogging. (In my past work industries, the professional profiles I met are mostly academics, politicians, lawyers, aviators and business owners. Well, let’s save those old-school stories for another time.)

Being part of the social media scene has definitely opened my eyes wider. There are just so many interesting sights & sounds to share with you guys…which I did of course - on Snapchat and Instagram Stories. BUT…what you haven’t heard are some of the most hilarious jokes, rudest remarks, super entertaining banter overheard at events. Many of those were generously targeted at me during conversations. Some were unfortunately thrown at other people.

I hope they didn’t take it too hard, like how I did...NOT.

(LOL. Actually I just didn’t know how to feel and what to make of it. *shrugs)

Disclaimer: No malicious intent for sharing this. Purely for entertainment purposes only.

Funny, Bitchy Remarks and Eye-rolling Situations at Media Events

...............................................................................

Blogger A (to me): “Oh, so you’re a housewife now?”

My face.

...............................................................................

PR Manager A: “Bloggers, you can start to post photos on your Instagram account right NOW! Remember to hashtag us!” (And no, this wasn’t a time-sensitive live Instagram contest. We can post after the event, which have always been the practice at other such similar events.)

...............................................................................

 

Blogger B: “You know, nowadays a lot of people asked me for opinions regarding beauty products… and get influenced by me as to which products to buy. I think I am really AN INFLUENCER.”

(All of us are influencers there. Ahem.)

WOW. Come I come for you.

 ...............................................................................

Me during event Q & A: “Which products are suitable for oily & sweaty skin? These are my concerns.” 

 X Brand Manager: "Oh, I can tell. (Stares at my shiny face & started sniggering) Heeheehee!"

...............................................................................

 

Me: “Hi C! Faith here. Pleasure to meet you.” *genuinely smiles at C

Arrogant Blogger C: “Sorry, I am socially awkward and I am busy taking photos now.” (All these while, she hasn't cast a glance at me, at all.)

(In my head…): Oh really? I CANNOT tell ffs.

...............................................................................

 

Blogger D: “Faith, I know already! Aiya, they (a beauty brand) didn’t invite you to the event cos they know you will buy their products anyway! You’rerich mah!”

 

...............................................................................

Popular beauty blogger, M, was conducting a makeover on a participant’s face at a makeover show. 

Event Emcee: “So M., what are YOU doing NOW?” *sultry voice

(Anyone could see M was applying blusher on the cheeks. Never in my life have I met such a bimbotic emcee.)

 ...............................................................................

Blogger E: “OMG! Faith, you're 34?? You look FUCKING YOUNG.”

"Thou shalt not spell out the swear word FUCK in full."

...............................................................................

Brand Owner A is a total stranger. It's the first time we met.

Brand Owner A: “OH, so you’re a blogger! Can you blog about my shop (free of charge)?”

...............................................................................

 

Brand Y Marketing Executive: “Erm… your stats are for yourself right?” 

(In my head..): What stats? Vital stats? Yes, BIG secret for myself. 

...............................................................................

 

Blogger F: “EHHH…why you take photos with the Christmas tree? Hahaha! Very funny leh!! Take outside lahhhh!”

(The “Christmas tree” was the main star product of the day.) 

___ 

Hope you guy enjoyed reading this post as much as I had creating it! Side note: The social media industry, behind all that glamour & glitter, is still a space made up by human beings. The same kind of office politics that takes place at work sites happens here too. That being said, as with any human environment, there are ALSO nice, kind & friendly people present too. So please do not misunderstand my point.

And if there is a moral behind this story... it is this: 

"Be humble. Be nice. Everyone should be treated with the same respect & sensitivity." - This is a personal philosophy that I lived by (except #thestruggleisreal toward assholes people undeserving of respect).

To the people involved (whom still remember the shit they say, which I highly doubt so):

No matter who you are and what you said, I STILL LOVE YOU! I didn't mind, and I hope you don't too. This is really in the name of fun, okay? :)

To those whom I may have offended, my heartfelt apologies to you. I didn't mean it. No names were mentioned here. No names will EVER be mentioned anywhere else too - this I can promise. 

#天知地知你知我知

Happy weekend, lovelies! Stay happy & cheery!! X

 

London Fun Things To Do (Special Exclusive: Best Spots for your #OOTD shots!)

  

London is a piece of what heaven seems like. It's got everything for everyone - from arts & culture to food & shopping, world history to amazing scenery... There is no reason not to pay the glorious city a visit (except for the strong sterling pound)! 

Sharing with you guys some of the must-visit places and some tips while travelling in London. Of course, since my country offers no opportunities for me to showcase winter OOTD, I'm gonna do so here as well! And you can reference the best locations we used for my OOTD photos.

MY TRAVEL NOTES

I am not the type who follows any sort of routine or itineraries, so I did not plan a proper tour itinerary for this London trip. Below are some not-really-organised travel notes which I actually referred to while in London for 8 days. If you find it useful for you, click to enlarge & save images. Alternatively, if you prefer a printable copy, you can download HERE.

Out of the 8 days in London, we used 2 days for road trips to Bath, Stonehenge, Winsor Castle, Stratford Upon Avon, Cotswold, Warwick Castle. I used Evans Evans Tours. You can find out more about the tours HERE. I highly recommend them if you are not driving or you prefer to have experienced guides to bring you around; or if you're like us, who simply prefer fuss-free organised tours to bring us around so we can rest and relax our minds/doze off on coaches! These London tour companies are really organised and their tour guides are super punctual & efficient with very clear & precise verbal instructions. Listening to Londoners speak Queen's English is a bliss! (Trust me, when you return to Singapore, you will feel slightly embarassed at our Singlish. No offence, haha!)

Outside Windsor Castle

Stonehenge: Travel 2 hours from London to view stones, why not?

Roman Bath House, Bath.

Shakespeare Birth Place, Stratford Upon Avon. For the literature buffs, as well as for Mr & Mrs LKY supporters.

As for bus tours, the two major operators are The Big Bus Tour and The Original Bus Tour. We opted for the latter. There are positives and negatives of our experience, so I can't exactly recommend them to you. You might be better off taking the tube (London Underground) or travel by foot. Choose a centralised location for your stay in London, it helps! We had our first AirBnB experience and stayed 7 minutes walk away from Oxford Circus tube station. THAT really saved us quite a bit on transport, bearing in mind for a week, we each spent SGD80 on tube alone (and we stayed in the heart of central London)!

Being on the top deck of a tour bus in deep winter is quite the exhilarating experience! You get an overview of the city in a couple of hours, but that's probably the only perks of signing up a bus tour.

MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES 

"One man's trash is another man's treasure." Taking MY preferences into account - I am a serious beauty shopper, coffee addict and a wee bit of an arts & literature buff... do use my travel recommendations with a pinch of salt.

MUST-VISIT PLACES IN/NEAR LONDON:

1. Notting Hill

2. Camden Lock Market

I promise this is just 1% of what Camden Lock offers! You may spend half a day there!

3. Kensington Gardens

4. Buckingham Palace (Change of guards)

Downside of visiting Buckingham in winter months - dreadful rain!

Go in the summer months if you have a fetish for their usual red uniforms

5. Covent Garden

I went to Covent Garden for this...

..Ended up adoring the entire Covent Garden shopping area.

6. Bath (out of London)

RECOMMENDED NOT-TO-BE-MISSED TOURS:

1. British Museum - free!

2. Tower Bridge Tour

Scare yourself by looking down and imagining the glass breaking!

3. Shakespeare Globe Theatre Tour (for performing arts lovers. Go in summer to watch a play!)

4. Windsor Castle (out of London)

Windsor Castle, the area where Queen Elizabeth usually works at

MY FAVOURITE CHEAP EATS:

Well, they are not exactly cheap per se...seriously, you're in the UK, nothing is ever CHEAP okay? These foods I love are simply not within the fine-dining tier, so they are considerably affordable.

1. Burger & Lobster

2. Gold Mine Duck

3. The Riding House Cafe

London Outfit Diaries + Where you can take OOTDs Without Photo Bombs

Location: British Museum Back Entrance

Location: (Back facing) Trafalgar Square

Location: Tower of London, along Thames River Bank

Location: Tower Bridge, along Thames River Bank

Location:Windsor Castle

Location: Along Oxford Street

Location: Stonehenge 

Location: University of Oxford, Science College area

Location: Notting Hill, backyard of residential areas

Travel Tips (not included in my travel notes):

1. Best time to visit London is July-September (summer) or Christmas season if you want to experience the festive cheer. I went after Christmas for their post-season sale, only to realise I don't fancy their winter wear. Boots selection were alright though not the cheapest in the world. And January in London is the coldest, with lots of rainfall and an occasional bout of snow, which is rare but I experienced it.

2. Buy an Oyster card and top up accordingly, NOT the visitor oyster card.

3. London B&B apartments are the cheaper accommodation options, BUT please select carefully. Some apartments have unwelcomed visitors, i.e mice. Remember to close the windows when you're out!

4. Londoners are generally friendly & approachable although some may look stern and their walking pace is fast, just like the Hongkies. Be polite and respectful and they will treat you the same, regardless of your ethic race or weird non-standard English (LOL).

5. You should really check out at least one museum or art gallery such as Tate Modern or Natural History Museum, whether or not you love history or the arts. Why? It's FREE and there are MANY interesting and educational exhibits to enjoy.

6. Money saving tip: Reduce eating out by buying yummy ready meals from M & S. A meal typically costs SGD8 or less. You do need a microwave oven to heat up though.

7. Bring loads of British pounds!!! You have been warned!!!

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Hope this London travel/fashion post has been useful! If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in my New York Travelogue too!

Have you been to the UK? Anything you'd like to add to the list of things to do, comment below! :)