Maliq + d'Essentials live in KL

Many of us from the bazaar would be in Zouk for Tompi, Noryn Aziz and Maliq + d'Essentials this Friday. If you don't already know who Maliq + d'Essentials are, here are their video clips!

:o)

Terdiam


Untitled


Kangen


Happy Monday, peeps!

Laser Cut Metal Pendants

La Petite Penderie is bringing a new addition to their collection, this weekend - laser cut metal pendants.


They are being retailed at RM 35 each!

Quirky Jewelry

If you count yourself as a collector of handmade animals and dolls, the fanciful creature assortment by La Petite Penderie would be a perfect addition to satiate your addiction.

These rough-hewn, hand-stitched creature necklaces are being retailed at RM 18 each.

Surprises

Shoppers and traders, who I get to meet through the bazaar never cease to surprise me. Meet Dimi who made my jaw dropped, when he managed to solve the Rubik's cube in less than one minute, while we were chatting.

'Children of the 80s' or the '80s babies' would be familiar with the puzzle which was invented in 1974 by the Hungarian professor and sculptor, Erno Rubik. It was used as a teaching aid by the professor of architecture to explain geometric theory to his students. During the 1980s the Rubik’s Cube spawned a subculture of enthusiasts that formed clubs, organised competitions and watched cartoons all based on the puzzle.

Enough history ... lets stare in awe! :o)

Yong, a trader at the bazaar, volunteered to work his magic hands on my wrist watch that a shop outside claimed could no longer function. I was happy when it started ticking again and I only paid the battery cost!

Other gadgets retailed by Yong.

Kelly's Handbags

Kelly has been with us for the past month and every single time, I'll have a tug of war with my conscience; to buy or not to buy. You can find quite a few stylo handbags in her selection and last weekend I had to really refrain myself from buying a Chloe-ish design handbag (only because I've bought 3 handbags earlier). Price starts at RM 25.

Here are what I've bought from Kelly's stall. Well, I only shop at the bazaar now. :o)

Press Citation: Klang Valley Streets, New Straits Times

Klang Valley Streets: Jewel of a find
By : ASHREENA PILLAI

Thursday, September 13, 2007

ASHREENA PILLAI recommends a bazaar named after French for ‘jewel’ as an excellent place for bargain hunters on the lookout for all manner of treasures.

BIJOU Bazaar, at the alcove of Jaya Shopping Centre in Section 14, is a treasure trove where you can shop for items such as clothes, glassware, bags, jewellery and home ornaments.

The name Bijou, a French word which means jewel, is somewhat meaningful as some of the trinkets there can be considered great finds. Bijou Bazaar came about when school friends Maryam Samirah Shamsuddin and Elynor Aisha Seth both 29, wanted to open a boutique selling their own designs under their labels, Le Petite Penderie which carries casual wear and Manja for their lace kebayas.

Not sure if their designs were to the taste of potential customers, Maryam and Elynor came up with the idea to set up a bazaar to test the market first. They roped in their friends and other fellow traders to help them, and Bijou Bazaar was set up.

So I made a trip to the bazaar recently, thinking it was highly unlikely that I would find something of interest, but I was wrong. In no time, I was cooing over some playing cards (RM5) and postcards (RM6) designed by British Airways which only set me back by RM11. There were so many other things that I wished I could have bought. One being a beautiful, large antique mirror that reflected a little bit of Middle Eastern feel that was only RM580. It was a real bargain if you ask me, but buying it would require me to part with half of my savings!

Although the bazaar has a list of 30 vendors, there are only about 10 to 15 permanent vendors trading their goods every week, with the others making their appearance on alternate weekends. So regular visits is a must to make sure that you don’t miss out on any goodies. The prices range from as low as RM0.50 to RM1,800.

Ghazali Yahya, 35, or better known as Gaz is one of the vendors at the bazaar. At his booth, you can find a bountiful collection of interesting items like Chinese silk embroidered tops from Shanghai, bags and tablecloths from Iran as well as stainless steel cutlery sets from Germany.

“My former job as a MAS cabin crew required me to travel to so many countries and buying things became a hobby to me. I preferred to sight-see and do some light shopping than stay closeted in the hotel,” said Gaz who used to model in his younger days.

Norlia Shukri, a cousin of renowned designer Tom Abang Saufi, also has a booth at the bazaar. She sells beautiful bead embroidered baju kurung material (RM400) as well as beaded shawls (RM300) and batik halus (RM75). There is also some classy kebaya available for RM150 (they normally cost RM200).

Another ex-MAS cabin crew Hanni Hassan, 37, also has a booth at the bazaar. She sells cushion covers, handicrafts and handmade tablecloths among other things. Hanni also offers bridal packages and dulang hantaran.

“Just like Gaz, I used to collect items when I travelled the world with Malaysian Airlines, though my collection is not as big as his!” she said.

For the Hari Raya crowd, Maryam and Elynor also plan to bring in some new items, namely the batik Indonesia and kain kebaya while Hanni plans to sell ready-made Indonesian baju sulam. Also available are tasty homemade kuih raya like kuih samprit, chocolate chip cookies, jam tarts and fruit cakes.

So what you waiting for? Make some space on your weekend calendar and pen down Bijou Bazaar in bold! You never know what ‘jewels’ you may find!

Celebrity Style Watch

Trust Sarah Jessica Parker to kick start a trend. Sarah Jessica Parker works the dishevelled hair, miniskirt and oversized cardi better than most 15 years her junior, and the socks are a cute preppy addition.

Copy her style @ Bijou Bazaar:

Oversized Cardigan + Cami Set (La Petite Penderie)

Size: Free Size but would fit a UK Size 6 - 10
Price: RM 59.00


Oversized Envelope Clutch (e-Shop Talk)

Both are trading this weekend!

How to Layer?

How did your Raya weekend go? I've put on 2 kg ... erk! Thank goodness layering is still 'acceptable'. ;o)

The thing about layering, it can stretch your wardrobe and take basics year-round (and it allows you to wear your favourite shirt with holes or which is missing a button, without others noticing ... hehe!). The basic layering look is easy to achieve.

Now, lets start layering: pull on a long-sleeved tee, followed by a short-sleeved one with a different neckline. Throw on a tea dress or a pinafore. Cinch your waist with a belt, layer the bottom half of your body with tights, et voila ... you've got the look nailed. For a fashion-forward look, mix fabrics: put a sequined shrug over a t-shirt or a velvet jacket over a beaded top.

Other layering ideas:

(images from freepeople.com)

Start experimenting already! :o)

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

We'll be taking a break this weekend and will be back next weekend, 20th October 2007. Hope to see you then!

La Petite Penderie

New finds last weekend ...