I woke up bright and early on Mon to begin my shopping day! I had planned out my shopping route the night b4, circling the streets and subway station I have to go to.
I had to fully utilize the time I had and my plan was to make it back to my motel and leave for the airport at 7pm. My flight was at 11.15pm but I wanted to give myself ample time to take the train to the airport, deal with the tax refund and check in.
I checked out of my room but then left my luggage there. They had a locked room so I felt safe leaving my stuff there.
The first stop was Miu Miu where I was going to help my friend Jacq get a bag she wanted. They did not have the bag displayed so I asked them and they were able to bring it out for me. I was real excited when they were able to bring out the exact bad she wanted.
I first sms her as the price was higher than the one she gave me and she also mentioned that she wanted a medium one, however, I was told by the SA that there is only one size. After confirming everything, I checked the bags only to discover that on the clasp of it was a "V" scratch that was about 1cm long!
ARGH!
I asked the SA if she could bring out another one as this had a scratch and do u know what she told me?
"This is a new bag, its as good as u can get .... its ONLY a bag"
Oh my FUCKING god, u did not know how pissed I was! This is not some cheap pasar malam bag, I'm paying good money for it, its NOT "ONLY a bag"
I quickly sms Jacq to tell her about it and she was real nice about it. She said if I can accept the scratch then get it, if not, get the other color. I looked at the other color for 2 secs b4 rejecting that too. I turned my attention back on the original bag but because the scratch was so near the logo, I could not help but see it every time I look at the bag. There was no way I could get it for Jacq.
I then told the SA that I could not accept it and since she could not bring out another piece I wasn't going to get it. Do u know what she said now?
"This is the only piece, do u think I would waste my time with u if I had another piece?"
WTF? That was not what she said in the beginning! Whatever, I was happy to walk out of the store!
Oh well ... on to my next destination.
Passed by the Bastille on the way there ...
Also passed by the La Madeleine
I headed to my Chloe boutique to search for my Paddington :)
The SAs there were real nice (unlike that bitch at Miu Miu) and after looking at all the color choices that were brought out, I make my "safe" choice. I did not want to spend a lot of time worrying about my bag, esp if I am spending alot of money on it.
Here she is :D
If they had one in red, I might have seriously considered it. But I really love this chocolate brown. I have been dreaming of this bag for the longest time and I absolutely love it.
After Chloe, I headed back to the one departmental store I was at on Sat, went to the Miu Miu there but they did not have the bag I wanted. I then stopped by Balenciaga to enquire about their bag but it was a little too exp for me. I wanted to get another bag but I wanted to get a relatively cheaper bag. I also stopped by Longchamps to check out bags for my sis and mom.
After which, I headed to the Champs-Elysees area. I wanted to see if I would be able to find my Baby Spy :) I took the subway down and found the really huge boutique there. Unfortunately they had only one color and it wasn't something I love :( So sadly I said no to the SA.
One last look at the Eiffel Tower while shopping.
Walked around more b4 heading back to the departmental stores again .... This time I went to the one a street away from the earlier one, they had a Miu Miu there too!
I went in store and asked about the bag and they said they have it!! OMG, I was real excited about it ... BUT ... they only had it in a Rose Beige color :( Jacq wanted it in a Silver. And so the text messaging went back and forth again. All this time I was modelling the bag, and loving it more and more. Finally she said I should make the decision, if I think she will like it, get it.
GROAN!!
I hate making decisions like this! Moreover, we have not really been friends for that long, I wasn't sure what her tastes would be. It was then that I decided to get it, if she did not like it, I will keep it ... hahahaha, after spending so much time with the bag, I have fallen in love with it too!
As I was getting ready to pay, I apologize for taking up so much of the SA's time, explaining I was getting it for a friend and because she wanted it in silver, that was why it was taking even longer for me to reach a decision.
It was then the SA's looked at me and said "Silver? I think I do have it in silver"
OMG, is she serious? She went back to the store room and sure enough took out a silver bag. And then the text messaging started and that was when Jacq started to psycho me to get the other color too! I was so tempted but I had not come to Paris with a Miu Miu bag in mind and I did not want to make a rash decision. It was one thing to keep it if she did not like it but to actually buy it.
I spend way too much time there contemplating but I finally told her to put it aside for me, that I would shop around and if I did not find something else, I would be back for it. I paid for Jacq's bag and went to Longchamps to get bags for my sis and mom.
Unfortunately I have not taken pics of their bags ... haha. Well, suck it up ... would u rather I wait to post this AFTER I have taken pics of their bag? I don't think so :P
So now I have a total of 4 bags, plus my handbag on me ... I have been walking around all day and my arms and feet were killing me. But I had to move on, there is still shopping to be done!
I went back to Balenciaga as I was thinking, if I am going to get a second bag, I should first exhaust my original options, and they were Fendi and Balenciaga. The first Balenciaga store had the bag I wanted but not in the color I prefer. I did not want to go for a safe color and was really hoping to get something in red. So I headed to the other nearby Balenciaga and this time they had the color I wanted but not really the style I wanted.
CRAP!
The design was lovely but the shape was somewhat like my Paddy that I just got. So I decided that I wanted another bag that is of a different shape. Next was Fendi ... nope, no Baby Spy other than the color that was shown to me at the other store too :(
By this time, it was after 6pm ... remember that I was planning to be on my way to the airport by 7pm? I was running behind schedule ....
I rushed back to Miu Miu and unfortunately the SA that was helping me earlier wasn't there, so they took some time find the bag that I reserved.
This is my first Miu Miu ... I am so BANNED from buying anymore bags for a LONG LONG time!
When it was finally found, they rung me up and then I rushed down to the basement of the departmental store to get my tax refund forms done up. I grabbed all the paperwork, rushed to the nearby metro station and caught the train back to my motel.
I was a sight to behold, with so many paper bags, trying to squeeze on the train during rush hour.
I made it back to the motel just past 7pm, got my bags and then found a corner to pack my stuff!
It took me about 15mins to safely pack the bags away before headed back to the train station to catch a train to the airport.
My luggage was so heavy and I was struggling with it but I did my best to walk non stop to the station as I was afraid that if I would to stop, I would get mugged .... if something would to happen to the bags .... oh my, just kill me :P
Luckily it was a short distance to the station and after a slight struggle to get on the train, I was on my way ...
But wait, the chaos doesn't stop there ... while on the train, I got out my tax refund forms and read the instructions. I almost fainted when I saw the "Pls show your receipts ...." I knew I had them somewhere but I did not remember coming across the receipts to my last (and biggest) purchase at the departmental store. If I did not have that, that would mean hundreds gone!
I frantically searched my bags but because I was still on the train, I could not really do an extensive search. So the moment I reached the airport, I found a quiet corner and then opened all my luggage .... searched, searched, searched .... nothing :'( I could have cried! I was trying to trace my tracks and wondering if I was given the receipts back when I was doing my tax refund.
But it was too late .... nothing could be done, I just hope that they did not ask for it. I dragged my luggage to the tax refund counter and handed in the forms. My heart was pounding at this time .....
"Do u have the items with u?"
Yes, I told him, pointing to my luggage. He then proceed to stamp my forms and that was it! No asking about receipts. U do not know how relieved I was! I grabbed my forms, mailed it and then proceeded to check in with plenty of time to spare ......
What a long day ..... I better get some rest on the plane as I had to go back to work the day after I got back .... vacation is over, back to reality :(
