We just got in our order of Santi miniature beaded and sequined bags and we are so excited…it looks like a pack of M&Ms exploded all our shelves at Q. We have soft bubblegum pinks, sweet tangerines, minty-fresh whites, fresh lemony yellows, effervescent grape juice…as well as more adult indulgences like licorice blacks and chocolatey browns.  Get a calorific eye-full at Q today!

Proudly made in Toronto, Canada, Brave Belts are the latest and one of the most fashion-forward and ecologically-conscious belt brands at Q. The company uses only the very best leathers and salmon skins (it looks and feels just like snakeskin) - both remnants from the food industry - to make its very wide assortment of belts.

At Brave the leathers are vegetable-tanned – a slow and expensive process that is more eco-friendly than dyeing the leathers and also allows the belt to get better with age – who knew. Then the leather goes through up to 37 processes on its way to becoming a Brave belt.  

Although socially responsible the brand is also completely fashion-driven – the owner of the company was an ex- male model, need we say more – and Brave has created designs that cover the gamut of all the emerging belts trends while also forging new trends for the industry like  super skinny belts, super soft 80s-style self-wrapping belts and lacquer-like finished double belts.

Brooklyn-based Lisa Fortin has ably risen to her self-imposed challenge to forge rigid steel and unrelenting chain mail into a line of soft jewellery and accessories that are immediately identifiable and which she has so aptly named Steel Couture. She braids, knits, and crochets these “hardy” materials into intricately detailed and innovatively-styled earrings, necklaces and belts that are fresh, unique and boast an uncompromising full-on rock ‘n roll aesthetic.

We have discovered new lands, looks, styles and designers in our Columbus-like sojourns around the world…and the latest….Brazilian-made Dautore Handbags. Making a Conga-line into Q, Dautore is super-soft, super-light and Samba Sweet!

The bags are slouchy, over-sized, made of soft and supple leather and boast clean lines and most importantly for the gal-about-town the line eschews all forms of heavy metal hardware to weigh one down. We brought in a couple of the signature big bags as well as their unique harlequin appliqué “2.55-like” shoulder totes.  

Be different, Be Q.

Whoever it was who sang that disco was dead and someone killed the radio star certainly did not shop at Q where you can now own your very own set of kaleidoscopic disco balls so small - but bigger than a ball bearing - that you can wear it (or them) on your person!  

Lily Posh celebrates bling in this collection of lariats, necklaces, bracelets and earrings executed in turquoise, pinks, purples and blacks to suit your mood from subtly playful to over-the-top in-your-face. Come see and celebrate the triumphant return of disco!

I first spotted these bags in my favourite magalogue and was dying for a close-up to see whether they were as functional as I remembered. And, yes they are… Designed by Cali-girl Christina Oh whose muse is the modern female who is intelligent, industrious and exudes effortless elegance her label is at once chic, easy and sumptuous.

And for all the girls out there who told us all they want is a day/office/computer bag that is both lightweight yet stylish – check out Blvd’s range of slouchy/structured quilted bags made of luxe nylon and accented with leather. Other cool features: the interiors are roomy and the zipper pockets add a functional/design element to the bags.  

And our vote goes to Blvd’s super-warm international sales director Raina Paquillo for being one of the nicest people we met in LA!

So we were walking around – and not minding our own business obviously - and saw tons of people milling around and ordering these braided chains by the dozens. We got in line to see what the deal was….and here it is a totally cool and new concept for Singapore and a look that is sweeping through laidback LA. 

The simple yet complex chains – a mix of two types of chain, satin ribbon and minuscule charms can be used as a lariat, long necklace, short necklace, bracelet, hairband or do ot Olsen-style around the forehead. Versatile and mobile – we ordered a dozen for Q in bright jewel tones as well as demure naturals.

Francesca Romana Diana is a newcomer to Q with her own design heritage and aesthetic. She is Italian by birth and heritage and has flagship stores in exotic Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo as well as in big cities around the world. The Italian + Brazilian equation results in riotous carnivale pieces made with meticulous craftsmanship.

Francesca’s latest collection was inspired by the Medici family of 15^th century Florence to which she gives a soulful update with pure white enamel highlighted in orange, red and purple. The easy-to-wear collection includes rings, bangles and cuffs.

So come on everyone pull on those strapy gold sandals and party like its carnivale in Singapore city.

And yes folks….carnivale Singapore style = F1 night races!

One of the most cutting-edge yet simple ideas in jewellery we have seen in an age comes all the way from Brooklyn, New York and was created by rock-and-roller Justin Tranter of the garage glam band Semi Precious Weapons. His conceptual idea was to create a line of bangles and necklaces in plated brass and use Austrian crystals to spell out words like …try, baby, magnetic, love and precious in Standard American Braille.

What a cool idea! So if you want to wear a private message around your neck or wrist, check out Fame. Our young summer intern Adrienne so loves the line…she promptly bought two pieces as we were tagging them! Also available from hip LA stores Fred Segal and Jennifer Kaufman.

Literally meaning marriage in Chinese culture, the words Double Happiness not only represent two sisters, Stephanie and Alisa, working creatively together but also a karmic chain reaction. Whatever the words mean to you the pieces will assault your aesthetic senses….they are in a word, spectacular…super-dangly and light, and juxtapose an opulent ethnic vibe with a modern contemporary feel!   We thought the collection rocked when we saw the line’s exotic sales manager Portia wearing an exotic headwrap offset by XXXL over-sized hoops. The effect: spectacular!

Special note to Janice Lim, one of my fave customers and a supremely stylish yummy mummy who loves dangly earrings and cabbage roses, if you are reading this…. this line is so you!