Branded obsession

Posted by Stacey

It is official! I am obsessed with luxury goods. I can't stop thinking about it. I can't help but notice it.

When I see a person, the very first thing I look at are their shoes, after that their clothes, their bag, and other accessories. With every look, I am trying to decipher where they got their stuff from and around how much they cost. With that, I can more or less get a gauge of what they are worth. I know it is not fair, but I have been brought up to pay special attention to how put together one looks. I just can't help it.

A person walks by and I will notice that Prada tote she is carrying or that tiffany bracelet or that cartier watch. It's my natural instinct. I will also try to see if its real or a knock-off or second hand. There's definitely a way to tell. I will frequent the different stores to try to familiarise myself with new styles, see the signature mark of the different designers so that the next time I see someone carrying them, I will be able to tell immediately. By now, I am sure what you are thinking, "I am a total nut!"

Maybe I am.

Posted by Stacey at 9:57 PM 0 comments

What was I thinking?

Posted by Stacey

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about just going home, back to the Philippines. All these thoughts started with my wanting to do luxury retail and I went to our career services office only to be discouraged and let down. I then went on to rant to my sister. Here's an excerpt of our dialogue.

Me: " I swear I won't go back to them for help."
Sis: " Well, you don't need their help."
Me: "Right, I can find a job myself."
Sis: "Or you can go home. With an NUS degree, it's gonna be easier to get a good job back home."

That really got me thinking... you know, she's right. She's not the only one who thinks that way. I was talking to my friends too and they were telling me whether or not I was considering going home where I might have better prospects in the field that I want.

I have been thinking a lot about what they have said and now that's more or less all I can think about... going home... It's like I am no longer happy here... Yes, I enjoy the freedom.. Yes, my life has changed for the better.. Yes, I am more confident now.. but bottomline is am I happy overall...

How many times have I gone to the mall alone spent hours and hours shopping just to kill time.. just to be around people even if i don't know them.... How many times have I watched movies by myself? I've even made a habit out of it.... How many times have I hesitated to eat at a restaurant because I was eating alone that I end up going to the food court....

I mean I know I can just make more friends here but somehow, I am not very good at it... I can easily respond to change if it involves me adapting to a new place... but I am not that adaptable when it comes to dealing with other people... I choose people I can easily approach... Sadly, I am not as sociable as I would have wanted to be...

The only thing that is stopping me from going home is the missed opportunities here. I mean, I have already worked so hard to get here and the pay here is higher and all that.... so why will I go back?

Right: "Why are you going back? The opportunites are here!!! Besides, what will they say if you go back now? That you couldn't handle it here? That you are incapable?"

Left: "But I am tired.... Besides, I can do well back home too..."

Right: " Sure you can... but it will never be as good as here... "

Left: "But I'm not happy...."

Right: "Who cares about happiness? Success.... that's what matters!"

This is a dialogue that is always going on in my head over and over again everytime I think about going home... I am torn.. will it really be a shame to just go home?

Posted by Stacey at 2:23 PM 0 comments

Of chandeliers, carpets, glamour and grandeur

Posted by Stacey



After attending a couple of parties here in Singapore, I realised one thing. I took the parties back home for granted.


So far I have attended 4 of my friends' 21st birthday parties, and so far, they are O-K-A-Y. I mean, the feeling is there... there is food, there is music... the warmth of friends is probably there too, but the festive mood isn't. The whole social aspect of it is not present. The parties are thrown simply to celebrate an occasion. There is not much consideration for anything else. Compared to the parties I attended back home, these parties are very simple and practical. Yet at the end of the day, everybody was happy. I guess, it's just not what I was used to.
I can't help but recall the number of parties that I have attended ever since I was a kid. Most of them were in huge Chinese restaurants or hotels with high ceilings, grand chandeliers, carpets and at least a 10-dish meal including shark's fin soup, steamed crab, and tiger prawns. Each of these parties involved anywhere from 30 to 100 tables and these were the norm.
As for those grand birthday parties, they normally happen a couple of times in one's lifetime... The 1st birthday, the 7th, quincanera (16th), the 18th (21st in other countries), chinese 16th, and maybe 80th? basically, when you reach around 65 or 70, every year gets to be celebrated. lol.
Since I am comparing to the 21st birthday parties that I have attended, I shall just discuss the 18th birthday party or what is known more as a debut. All these debuts that I attended are held either in restaurants or hotels, involve lovely gowns or at least cocktail dresses, lots of good food, at least a 2-tiered cake, a theme, and formal social dancing. It was a grand thing. A time to feel like a princess ( and look like one too.) It was an opportunity to dress up for everyone. And everybody wanted to look good socially, especially the host. Every detail is paid attention to, especially decor and menu. The theme, the programme, all meant to fit the coming of age of a young lady. It's pretty much like a small scale wedding. Nevertheless, there are formalities and grandeur. Yet, I never gave it much thought before.
I got too used to it, I forgot about its monetary value. I failed to consider the costs associated with such parties and how much a waste of resources they really are. Yet, people still kept having them and enjoying them. I saw parties as a status symbol. It was not about the celebration. It was about who attends the party, what people say about it, and how many praises you receive, trying to justify the exhorbitant expenses that you incurred for that little affirmation of your status.

But having attended the parties here made me think twice about what parties mean. The sad thing about the whole thing is, I would still rather have the glamour and grandeur than the heartfelt meaning of the celebration. Have I become too corrupt now that even if I know it is wrong, I still make the conscious choice to pursue it?

Posted by Stacey at 8:22 PM 0 comments