Even if you are a member of the Wallflower club

One of my dear guy friends used to love to wear a hawaii-print shirt. (Please gasp loudly now...)

Each time I saw the hapless chap in his hawaii-shirt, army crewcut, and jeans, I secretly wanted to rip it apart and burn it.

I think hawaii shirts should only be worn in Hawaii.

Of course, its more about the essence of the man and not the clothes he wears, but the floral print immediately blinds most chic ladies to his flawless beauty within. Don't get me started on Hawaii pants...perhaps only ladies can carry such big blooms...? Please banish those hawaii shirt to 90s' fashion history, or risk looking like dinosaurs...

Prehistoric drinks.


And almost every modelesque woman can look good in a sack or the androgynous ensemble of gray sequinned tank, harem pants and tailored jacket, but what about the rest of us? Fashion seems almost cruel to the majority whom I'm sure, are not a (US) size 2. (Lucky me!)

But take heart, hapless creatures.
Though my brain prefers to engage itself in esoteric topics and lately I favor the monochrome outfits of black skirt and white shirt in callback to my banquet waitressing days, I have stepped out of the neutrals/black slouchy bag mode and into Spring.

I've bought a Marc Jacobs bag in burgundy and a Raoul envelope clutch in lovely lovely rose gold. To add to this cheerful collection, meet Ms Kate Spade tote in yummy yummy orange!
My new 'partner'... love love love!


You may ask why women need so many bags. I don't have the answer! Hahaha! But it sure makes us feel happy! Maybe we just have a fetish for 'the smell of new bags', like the 'new car' smell. Plus, women of all sizes and shapes can buy and carry off almost any style of bag or shoe!

I can very safely say that these key pieces will be safe for anyone to wear, even for members of the Wallflower club.

People will say that you look oh-so-pretty, perhaps for the very first time.

Reebonz Spring Clean Blogger Contest Kate spade London Tote – Reebonz's Blog by spiritedly featuring a kate spade tote bag

Alex perry feather earrings from Diva (still in stores!)
Rose gold skinny belt from Raoul (Also in stores...)
Mustard yellow sunnies from Prada
Croc cuff - not available here
Vionnet nude and black toga
High waisted shorts, Raoul has for Cruise collection 2011
Miu miu bow pumps
Yellow vintage shift dress with sheer cutout stripes
And the orange Kate Spade bag.

cheerful bags

bought two new bags - red and rose gold by spiritedly featuring cotton skirts

Finally, out of the black/neutral colors bag mode and into cheery color bags.

This month's is the Raoul cheryl envelope clutch in rose gold. I love it!

Two recent buys in stunningly bright colors, trying to match them with what I already have in my wardrobe - a depiction.
And, I must try to wear my scarves more often!!!

hair regime

I tried the 'pore minimizer' mask from Faceshop, recommended by Clone (she uses seaweed kind, this one is new), and it does work!!! I feel less oily for at least the next half day after using it at night. As I have more time at home now, I should try to at least maintain an optimal state of skin- and hair- care. My facialist said that my pores are getting smaller after months (years) of her fantastic machine, and using the (expensive) serum of hers does make my skin, silky smooth. No wonder women are willing to pay for such products... While most skincare products have varied results on me - some causing breakouts or skin peeling (eeks!) some not 'cleansing' enough, others just don't work for me to continue buying bottle after bottle.

But thankfully for my mane of hair (which is growing longer), almost all products seem to work quite well - I don't have to buy a plethora that is hardly used. I'm going to leave my hair long enough for a nice perm hopefully in 3 months' time, so must take care of it, now. I never realised how much care long hair needs, especially since I dye it frequently.

Here's my hair care regime:

Shampoo: Tressemme. MsBestFriend loves the serum, I bought the shampoo which was good, and later the conditioner. Rm 19.90 at Jusco, so far not sure if Singapore stocks it.

Spotted these haircurlers at a cheap 'PinkBeauty' shop in AMK. It works very well! Better than those other pink haircurlers which always comes undone. Why are haircurlers always pink?

It's $6.90. I leave it in my dry hair for an hour or so and voila! Natural looking curls. To get nice curls, it's best NOT to wash hair for a couple of days. Butthen, I can't stand it...feel (maybe psychologically) that my scalp is itchy...

Bought the New York streets products from Sephora because they were on sale and I needed a hairspray. The 'liquid shine' turned out gorgeous, it tames those hair that sticks out in weird places like along your hairline and makes it look glossy, and also soft. Yay! Will definitely get another bottle when it finishes.

The hairspray is mild and I must say one of the best I've used. Cape from Japan another good one (only found in Japanese pharmacies.) A lot of people don't like using hairspray but the good point of it is that it keeps the curls and is more natural than wax or clay - too hard and solid looking. This hairspray smells nice too, and this range is the most inexpensive hair product range found in Sephora. And I'm also into the tin-boxes packaging.

I've always liked Redken products, their (red) shampoo is good too though a bit pricey for me. So I splurged on this 'velvet whip' for my hair ends that were looking like chicken backside feathers after trips to sunny places in December. Applied it only before bedtime and had instanteous results. Also found at Pink Beauty (Man I love that place.)

I've never been a girly-girl who applies moisturiser religiously or has to... blow her hair before stepping outta the house, but now that I have time to organize my wardrobe, actually FOLDED ALL my home clothes as well, and keep up a hair-and skin- regime, I must say the results are quite pleasing and fulfilling. TheBoyfriend commented he liked my hair with curls, in fact, when I went to TheChurch with curls, many guys commented they liked it as well! Surprise surprise, I always thought most guys liked rebonded long straight hair, or maybe it's just that curls suits me. I like it too and it isn't too much work for my hair to look tousled and messy, haha. So yes, new look! Best part is that curls make you look good in dresses. I don't know how to explain it but yes, Blake Lively, Leighton Messer, Rachel Bilson all those girls look good in curls and dresses...compared to straight hair.

Now it's just a waiting game of having it grow somewhat longer. Grow grow grow...

September's looks

Here are my cover looks for September. Inspired by those Japanese magazines where you can mix and match some pieces of clothing, I've done the same with a white shirt (Something which I've been longing to buy for the longest time), denim rolled cuff shorts, a purple dress, a nude cardigan which I wanna grab grab grab it, a knitted cardigan, a peachy skirt and some other items. Also, I've kept the color theme to purple, white, nude, pink, denim with red highlights. The best part is all the models are carrying different handbags each day... perhaps I should conside buying less clothes, mixing and matching those already in my wardrobe, and save to buy bags? The shoes are also mostly the same, I don't like to have too many pairs of shoes. And the necklaces, bracelets and rings are also something which I would have in my collection. The best part is some of these stuff are actually affordable, within my price points!

I love playing dress-up. I shall do more when I have time, which is, perhaps tomorrow...

On another note, shall STOP buying tee shirts. To all those people whom I've said, 'please stop me from buying tee-shirts, I've bought 3 in the last 2 weeks. Of course they are gorgeous. But still, I'm not 17 anymore.

Monday

Chasing the Monday Blues away by cheery shoes and da leepard bag.

Bag, Jimmy Choo

Watch, Casio

Bracelet, Aloha Mi Lajki

Ring, H&M

Cardigan, Hunky Dory

Dress, Noir&Blanc

Flats, Minimarket

Tuesday

No meetings today, I can slouch in the office with my shorts and tee. (Yes I am actually allowed to wear that outfit to work.)

Headband, Evita Peroni

Handbag, Dagmar

Ring, Pilgrim

Necklace, Aloha Mi Lajiki

Necklace, Comelia

Bracelet, Pilgrim

Tee, French Connection

Shorts, Esprit EDC

Flats Minimarket

Socks, American Apparel

Wednesday

Mid week snug in a nude cardigan. Won't go wrong with sparkly shoes.

Bag, Dagmar

Ring, H&M

Bracelet, J Dauphin

Necklace, Aloha Mi Lajki

Necklace, Thomas Sabo

Cardigan, Hunky Dory

Top, Hanky Panky

Skirt, H&M

Heels, Giuseppe Zanotti Design

Thursday

It feels nice to have a scarf around my neck.

Scarf, Vintage.

Clutch, Vintage.

Necklace, Comelia

Belt, Twenty8Twelve

Dress, Noir&Blanc

Heels, Gucci.

Friday

Going to explore the new shopping mall. Heard it has nice ice cream parlors!

Headband, Evita Peroni

Scarf, Vintage

Briefcase, Vintage

Bracelet, J Dauphin

Necklace, Comelia

Necklace, Aloha Mi Lajki

Vest, Burfitt

Belt, Twenty8Twelve

Top, Hanky Panky

Shorts, Esprit EDC

Heels, Gucci

Socks, American Apparel

Saturday

First to Church, then dinner with The Boyfriend's family. Hope I don't drip pasta sauce on my new dress.

Handbag, Prada

Bracelet, Vintage

Necklace, Aloha Mi Lajki

Cardigan, Rules by Mary

Minidress, Nakkna

Shorts, Esprit EDC

Heels, Giuseppe Zanotti Design

Sunday

Out with some girl friends for a tea party at Dempsey.

Headband, Evita Peroni

Handbag, Hermes

Ring, Pilgrim

Bracelet, Hermes

Bracelet, Francesca Romana Diana

Necklace, Aloha Mi Lajki

Cardigan, Rules by Mary

Tee, French Connection

Skirt, H&M

Heels, Gucci

spirited fashion picks

Hola hola! It's the weekend yay!

This week, having some time at The Office to scour the world of fashion blogs... Spiritedly brings to you... some wearable fashion looks that will easily update your current unglam look.

The semi-boho look so favored by Nicole Richie will never go out of style, just updated. I'm quite a fan of the floral-vintage look but few fashion cloth-makers seem to get it right. So I stick with the Japanese brands like Muji for that look. Upcoming trends include lace print + tie-dye. So imagine a two-toned tie-dye tunic dress paired with lace at the ends, only that the lace is printed on. Also very chic are lace necklaces, those plain tees would go awfully well with them. Or clash with stripey tees. I've seen a couple of lace necklaces in Diva.

The weave belt, or 'plait belt' as Muji calls it, is going to be in style for a long long time. But I dun like the synthetic look so I will opt for one in real leather. And in white, or pale beige. It goes well with 'the boyfriend' shirt and cuffed shorts.

Nicole Richie is pulling off a few fashion trends in this photo. I like the big, white, tee especially with a little pocket on the breast, it is so wearable with jeans, leggings, or leather tights here. This also showcases a black studded vest if you have one. Studded sandals are also hot, Trois + Inch has nice ones which I'm lusting after. For white tees, try Petit Bateau in Takashimaya or Muji again. (I haven't been to the newbies Berushka and New Look!)

Lastly, I like fringed bag, but again, only in suede and not in that cheap leather look. In black or brown, it instantly updates your look and makes any outfit you wear become so much more interesting.

Makeup update: I've been wearing Anna Sui's blush (the bestseller color, recommended by the shop assistant) and it's the best blush I've ever, ever, ever used. I've tried blushers from MAC to Majorca... so... I can say distinctly that this is the best and some might say comparable to NARS... It's in the perfect shade of pink (just ask for the bestseller color la) and love love love it. Also good is Benefit's 'That Gal', but it finishes quickly so I use it sparingly, it gives the whole complexion a peaches-and-cream look. In my third tube already. Faring well and I hope it never finishes is my Shu Uemura lipstick.

psst...

Keeping in the spirit of GSS season, here are some of my beauty secrets. I'm quite fastidious about what I put on my face as it tends to have a mind of its own, so after lots of trial and errors, here are the favorites. Also, as we're so spoilt for choices here with so many brands available, I seldom use a certain product more than once (don't you?) so here are the picks that has also made it through the 'more than once' in my makeup stash... Try try try...

Sato Co Enzyme Q-10 cream.
At the mid-20s, it's good to start treating the face and neck a little better. If not will look super old when you are 50 (compared to your peers.)
Either 1. Eat those collagen pills and drinks or 2. Go for facial to light-zap collagen in or 3. Apply some cream. I used to suntan a lot so I'm fearful of my neck looking wrinkly. Ah, I try to put it once a week nightly... forgot to apply it daily, hee hee...
Oh, only found in Meidi-ya or Isetan pharmacy. And not expensive. I believe less than $30... but always SOLD OUT...
Sephora nail polish. I believe it's only $7. Not one to go for super-ex OPIs or others...since I can go for manicure with those... I like the neon pinks they have which so far I don't see any around. Sally Hansen's good too and so is Rimmel (bought coral, now on my fingers.) I only go for red or nude on my toes... so try to be a bit bright and cheery on the fingers.

Kose face wash. I don't really wanna whiten my face anymore, but this is mild and superly gentle and... makes my face super soft! I am hooked. I wanted to just get the black mask (also very good) and the saleslady recommended this to me. It's new. You won't regret this... trust me! Very gentle on the face. I am buying Kose products from now on.

When Ms Cheerful asked me why my hands are so soft (apart from not washing dishes!) I told her... I have 2 words for you. "Molton Brown". Those with dry hands will find their hands amazingly smooth and soft. My hands are actually okay so I don't need it everyday. I got this at a fashion event... The smell is insane, you will keep smelling your hands like a pervert. Molton Brown hand cream, naranji.

Anna Sui Tinted Moisturiser

With my outdoor shoots getting more frequent, I don't want to put those heavy things like foundation, on my face - makes it look oily and feel there's a layer on my skin. Anna Sui - I believe this is called tinted moisturizer. Has SPF 15 - I know, not enough... The color blends to Asian skin well, and it's really natural and smells nice too! $65 at Tangs (I buy most of my stuff from Tangs.)

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

I don't really buy much perfume, preferring bodyshop blends or unisex scents but once I sniffed this one, I had to get it. Apple martini is the main ingredient. It's light and interestingly, it stays on for hours... which is what every perfume should do. One of her other perfumes, "Twilight" is worth a sniff, too...

Rimmel Pressed Powder with Minerals.

After a tinted moisturizer, if you want to apply other makeup and eyeshadow, you have to pat a light dusting of powder all over your face. This is what I'm currently using, and it's good! And less than $30. (Benefit's pressed powder comes a close second - it promises not to make you look oily... and it delivers!)

Jurlique Facewash

Coming in second, this is a really good facewash also by Jurlique for combination skin types. The smell of lavender and tea tree oil also helps calm down your psyche. A kind friend passed me a sample and ... I loved her for that.

Shu Uemura lipstick

I never really got the hang of using lipstick as... I don't need to accentuate my already thick lips... and lip glosses were my mainstay. However, after being persuaded by saleslady (I have no sales resistance whatsoever therefore fearful of stepping into shopping centre makeup counters) I tried the natural organic lipstick with a very nice shade of pink (At Marina Square, living nature? nature beauty? something like it) I loved it, but it rolled away one day and I'm still peeved at that... (Expensive lor. $45 leh.) Sobs. My newfound find is Shu Uemura's ... this one with just-the-right amount of glitter and gloss. My lips tend to chap so am afraid of lipsticks but with this one, I don't need to apply lipbalm beforehand...amazing! Nice range of colors - I chose one that is almost the same color as my lips and I love love love it. Next month, I will try a happy pink, close to the one that rolled away. At $38, I can afford to buy one every month. I was initially at the Shu counter looking for blusher. ( Haven't found any ideal blusher at all! Please recommend to me...)

Shiseido shampoo, $13 for a small bottle and $20+ for the maxi one.

Smells like orange milk... nice! And effect is similar to Khiels' amino acid shampoo. I like to squeeze lots so... cannot buy too expensive will heartpain. (And funnily, my hair cannot use cheap ones either.) It will just look disastrous. Guys will never understand... I cannot live in 3rd world countries with no mid-range shampoos...I also like RedKen - was recommended to me by a hairstylist, the red one works wonders after disastrous look... the cheapest place to buy is Chinatown 'Ocean', am so glad I work near enough to pop by during lunch. The Korean brand 'Olive' found at John Little's beauty box at PS is also good. I use the serum.

Makeupstore's eyeliner
Eyeliner. They last for ages so haven't tried many. I like MakeupStore's shades of Eyeliners though. Nowadays I use it on brows, haha. Their lip glosses rock too!

Eyeshadow, Makeupstore.

Also lasts for ages. And still as fresh as ever - no funny thing appearing on the surface. I have a dark brown which I use for brows at times when I want to have a more casual look, and to widen eyes... and sometimes for a smoky eyed look.

Mascara, Majorca Majolica.

Cheap and verrrry very good. Recommended by Ms Cheerful. If I had a choice, I wouldn't wear mascara. But this makes me wanna wear it everyday, so it's done its job well!

Benefit's 'That Gal'

My only gripe is that it finishes way too fast! Umm, one month plus?Applied after toner and as a primer, it gives a glowy pinky sheen which makes me look great in photos too. I look yellowish usually... so you can guess where the pink glow is from, now. Most of Benefit's products are really good. I like the tinted moisturiser too!

Anna Sui's Eye Color.
Lastly. These tubes last a long long time and they are very versatile. I like the purples and I just bought a cloud blue one. You can layer the powder eyeshadows on top to create interesting looks. Like a darker purple tube with a powder lavender shade. Purple for eyes always looks nice.


So after not-so-many years of makeuping, here are the best!

Buy buy buy.

a guide to dressing well (and looking good in photographs) while overseas

I went to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in the start of winter where when it's not too chilly, temperature can be about 15 deg, nice and aircon like - and when it's cold with the foggy weather it can be chilly of 9 deg or less. Being low-fat and always traveling light, here's how to wear stuff so you can pack light and still look good in photos. Oh, and it always helps to have a windbreaker with a light sponge inside. Here, I borrowed one from my friend. Nice road at the 'Little Italy' in Melbourne. I never saw any other roads that looked as nice as this one so when you spot a nice photographic moment, you have to carpe diem!



Day 1:
I bought 2 sweaters for the trip so this is my first one, a raspberry sweater from Nafnaf. I'm quite scared of getting a chill so I wore a undershirt under my black long-top.
These tights are 120 denier, looks classy for night or day and in my opinion, warmer and better looking than jeans. And I added a little black vest from Muji which surprisingly helps to keep warm... I will mix and match these outfits for nice photos as it progresses...



Day 2:
Still wearing the raspberry sweater, went to Philip Island and did a lot of walking so opted for jeans - I did wear thin knee stockings inside to be safe.

Day 3:
Just walking around the bohemian parts of Melbourne and it was not foggy, which means less cold. I wore a black bubble dress underneath the striped sweater and the vest and leggings.

Day 4:
Visited a church and a sunday flea market at St Kilda's beach. in this getup. It's Day 2's top, just that I wore it ,worn under the striped sweater. And leggings, instead of stockings. I bought a scarf from Target because the Daiso one just doesn't cut it.

Day 5:
Stockings with the black bubble dress and raspberry sweater at Ballarat. The white scarf... I love it. Inexpensive and furry and keeps me warm! On windy days it really freezes up your neck especially if you have short hair. Here, in a mock town, 18th century bar which stirs up a saucy pose in me...


Back to jeans for easy walking in a shopping area. Was getting used to the cold so it's just a hooded tee underneath (which came in handy when it started to shower.)

Having studied in design school, I tend to be quite 'tasty' when buying clothes. Shopping is no enjoyable pasttime for me, it's more of like a hawk swooping down on it's prey when it spots a tender, juicy, succulent one... I like bright colors but too often I tend to choose the combi of navy-gray-black that my whole wardrobe looks depressed. I think some people took my one-off comment on dressing well a bit too emotionally. I was just remarking, you could say 'highlighting' the fact that some guys in my midst dress a little too dowdily for the event or occasion they're going for. Maybe they are corporately uptight during work hours (I can wear almost anything I want except when meeting corporates) so they wanna relax after-hours. But I wanted to highlight that dressing dowdily not only catches the attention of the opposite gender in an 'un-tasty' light, it also gives yourself a negative reinforcement. As you would like other people to focus on your good points, therefore. accentuate (not over-emphasize though!) the good points you have through good dressing.

Mr A. always looks spiffy in his dressing (being tall and dark, helps) and I always find it a pleasure to walk beside him, girls tend to be a bit more secure knowing that the guy did make a bit of effort in choosing the clothes to wear. And it needs not be expensive, or glamourous. Just be NICE! (I mean the clothes...) Imagine, if the girl you like always sees you in old, faded, 'homeclothes' style... even though you are young, dashing and suave inside... she will never see it inside! 

(Oooh... I am very excited. Mr A. wants to bring me to places...he said he will bring me to a live band playing near the Sg Flyer area. This week, we are going to a nice sandwich bar in The Office area, take a walk by the Cavenagh bridge, go shopping at uniqlo, and spend one weekend afternoon 'relaxing'. Whee! whee! And he told me he looks forward to my 'bonjour' sms everyday! Muahaha.)

Kinds of dressing (young)girls don't like: boring old polo tees, shorts that show your white-chickeny legs, faded and old shapeless teeshirts that looks as though you have worn it for years, anything that screams 'boring' or 'cannotmakeit'. No "2 by 4" hairstyles too... or those that come right out from the 80s.

Kinds of dressing (young)girls like: shirts are always a crowd pleaser. Loafers. Beige loafers. Shoes in a color other than black. Anything from Zara. Or PullandBear (for me!)

 

Like the white knight in shining armor, your armor has to dazzle her... just that little bit.