OOTD: Oxblood and Leather Accents

H&M dress; RM99 RM49: available in oxblood and black (similar here)
Payless wedges; RM108 (last seen here and here)
Little Bits bag; RM65; available in white and pink (last seen here and here)
Earrings; RM3
Cuff; RM15

Photos by Tan Wei Jin

The simplicity of a straight-cut, boxy shift dress appeals to me when I have to move around a lot, stuff my face with food, or when I feel lazy to dress up. This 1960's dress cut with its short hemline and loose fit that is suitable for any body type ooze playfulness and youthfulness. Shift dresses are typically sleeveless and have a boat neckline but mine has been updated with sleeves and leather collar detail. Words cannot describe enough how fond I am of this dress as I've worn it over five times since I acquired it two weeks ago at H&M; I even wore it to work on Christmas day. The Little Black Dress has officially taken a backseat as this dress does everything the LBD does and more - it can be worn from day to night for every occasion and the oxblood colour (Autumn/Winter 2012 colour trend) is a killer, hence, overshadows the dull and boring black.

Every young to middle-aged women should own at least one of this easy-going, comfortable dress in their wardrobe. It is perfect for when you run out of time to pick out a decent outfit and for concealing a bloated tummy from the result of over-stuffing yourself with food, especially during this holiday season when there are loads of food involved at parties. But what if you don't fancy the shapeless silhouette shift dresses radiate, you might ask. Well, if you've got the coveted hourglass figure and you don't want to waste your waist, then cinch it in with a belt and you've got your jaw-dropping curves to flaunt and a new dress to boot!

P.S: Hope you had a blessed and joyous Christmas filled with nothing but happiness. May the fun and laughter continues as the new year rings in. Happy New Year, everyone!

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on my outfit? Would you rock the oxblood colour trend? Would you wear a shift dress? How would you style it? If you know of other places to shop for similar items I'm wearing, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!
  

OOTN: Understated Glamour

"Marriage is the golden ring in a chain whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is Eternity". -  Kahlil Gibran

Oasis dress; £60 £10/RM50
Payless wedges; RM108 (last seen here)
Earrings; borrowed

Bonita bracelet; RM29 RM14.50; available in blue and multi-colour
Vince & Co ring; c/o Vince & Co; price unavailable
Clutch; borrowed; price unavailable
Max Factor mini nail polish; #18 Cloudy Blue

Photos by Tan Wei Jin

To be invited to witness and celebrate the holy matrimony of a loving couple is an honour. But not knowing what to wear the night before the wedding is a complete nightmare. Thank goodness I found this gem of a dress which I wore only once on my five years anniversary with my boyfriend, when I was rummaging through my closet. I can't believe I have completely forgotten that I had this dress which I painstakingly picked out of the myriads of garments from the sales rack at Debenhams last year, as it was regretfully stashed at the back of my closet.

This jersey dress obviously deserve more credit than I give it for for its ingenuity to be bold and flamboyant yet understated, effortless and sophisticated. Since it was already screaming for attention, I didn't intend for my accessories or makeup to compete with it that night. I reckon my understated glamour was befitting for my distant cousin's formal wedding dinner held at a posh hotel ballroom last weekend.

You don't marry someone you can live with - you marry the person who you cannot live without. Surely the newly weds can't bear a day without each other. Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Loh on their marriage!

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on my outfit? What would you wear to a formal wedding dinner reception? If you know of other places to shop for similar items I'm wearing, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!
  

Luxe for Less: Designer Inspired Bags

The craze over chunky or colourful stackable bracelets has been spreading over the pages of fashion magazine and the blogosphere for quite some time now. But little did we realize that in the midst of chasing after trend there was and always have been another trend, or rather, arm candy that almost every woman carries for practical agenda while showcasing their taste in fashion.

With a plethora of handbags ranging from different sizes, colours and designs to choose from, a woman can never have too many handbags, especially designer handbags - one for every occasion to adorn her outfit. But, they do not come with a cheap price tag either. Unless you're super rich and can afford to shell out thousands of dollars to satisfy your lust for designer handbags, why not buy ones that are a lot similar for a fraction of the price?

Go on and embrace your sense of fashion in a reasonable state of mind within your financial means in these designer inspired handbags from brands like Chloe, Celine, Hermes, Mulberry and the likes.

Hermes Birkin; RM33; available in pink, orange and black
Photo credits

L: Mulberry Alexa; RM35; also available at Handbag Wholesale and Glossy Addiction
R: Mulberry Del Rey; RM38; available in pink, black, camel and yellow
Photo credits: 1, 2

 

L: Miu Miu Vitello Lux; RM48
R: Miu Miu Vitello Lux, RM60; also available at Little Bits
Photo credits: 1, 2

L: Givenchy Antigona zipper; RM55; available in almond and black
R: Givenchy Antigona; RM60; free shipping for orders placed between 15th and 25th December ; also available at Little Bits
Photo credits: 1, 2

L: Celine Trapeze; RM48; also available at Smooches Berry
R: Celine Luggage; RM58; available in brown, black and green; also available at Little Bits
Photo credits: 1, 2

Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium; RM75; available in brown, blush and black; also available at Smooches Berry and The Arrogant Minnie
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L: Alexander McQueen; RM80
R: Alexander McQueen; RM79; available in black, brown and orange
Photo credits: 1, 2

T: Cambridge Satchel Designer; RM89
B: Cambridge Satchel; RM45; available in almond, red, black dark brown and black; also available at Little Bits, Vicnity, Mirror Fashion Gallery and Zalora
Photo credits: 1, 2

Chloe Sally; US$50.99/RM156; available in pink and red
Photo credits

Irrespective of fashion, handbags are a necessity for women to store all the essentials like wallet, cellphones, keys and cosmetics when they're out and about. Personally, I don't think I can function without a bag - I wouldn't know where to keep all my stuff. Trousers with pockets are great but even so, cellphones are getting bigger nowadays and they no longer fit into pockets, what more my other essentials like water bottle to stay hydrated, cardigan to keep warm in cinemas and a pen and notebook to jot my ideas and thoughts. Also, more often than not, you would find that your handbag is a place your husband or boyfriend throw their keys and pamphlets they take from the electrical and gadget stores. So the next time your boyfriend or husband complains that you own one too many bags, tell him that he uses all of them too. Perhaps, this could be a great excuse to get him to buy you another to add to your already extensive collection of handbags.

"Don't spend all your money trying to buy handbags but your bank account is negative". - Anonymous

P/S: Little Bits is currently having a Christmas Holiday sale and it's offering 10% off store wide until 31st December. Take this opportunity to do some last minute shopping before Christmas and order off of the ready stock items. If you're not press for time, then get spoilt for choice on its pre-order items. Happy shopping and happy holidays!

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on designer inspired bags? Would you use them or would you rather save up to buy authentic handbags? Which is your favourite? If you know of other places to shop for affordable designer inspired bags, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!

OOTN: Black Lace & Salmon Accents

Tesco top; RM39; available in black and cream
Tesco leggings; RM28; available in salmon, blue, black, grey, purple
Little Bits bag; RM65; available in white and pink (last seen here)
Shoes; RM20; available in black, blue, pink, purple, red and green; available at kiosk outside Tesco Penang
Kitschen bracelet; RM10 (last seen here & here)
Forever 21 necklace; RM30

Photos by Tan Wei Jin

I'm sure each and everyone of you has got something you simply can't get enough of from your wardrobe; be it a little black dress, sky high stilettos or even a plain white tee. As of late, I can't seem to get enough of my black lace top and my salmon coloured cotton leggings which I purchased from Tesco. When it comes to fashion, I have a penchant for simple pieces with elaborate or practical details and these two have just that and they're on heavy rotation in my wardrobe. As if they're simplicity isn't enough to convince me to wear them often, they had to drug me with their sheer comfort and versatility that seem to go with almost everything in my closet effortlessly. For less than RM40 per piece, there's really nothing I can complain about, aside from the hopes of them lasting for quite a while as I doubt I can find anything similar to replace them, especially the leggings, for that kind of price if there is ever a need.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on my outfit? What can't you get enough of from your wardrobe? If you know of other places to shop for similar items I'm wearing, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!
  

OOTD: Simple in Black and White

“Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” ― Coco Chanel

H&M tshirt via F.O.S.; RM20 (last seen here)H&M skirt; £3.99/RM19.90
Bag (gifted); price unavailable
DV by Dolce Vita shoes; £39/RM195 (last seen here)
Sunglasses; RM20; available at Sungei Wang (last seen here)
Forever 21 necklace; RM7; (last seen here)

Ring; £4/RM20; Ireland
DIY bracelets (tutorial here)

Photos by Tan Wei Jin

Whenever I couldn't care less about what I wear or remove various article of clothing ten times faster than choosing and trying them on simply because I don't like how they look on me or make me feel, I know that I'm not in the mood for playing dress up regardless of how much time I waste in attempting to convince myself otherwise. I loathe this sombre mood that happens at least once a week but I'd say it's a love/hate relationship because I don't specifically despise it though. My quick fix? Go simple and dress up in black and white as it's timeless and effortless. Several colourful accessories wouldn't hurt too to play up my lazy Sunday afternoon mood and look.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on my outfit? What would you wear whenever you feel lazy? If you know of other places to shop for similar items I'm wearing, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!
 

DIY: Screw Nut Bracelet Tutorial

We all know that with a little accessorizing, an outfit can go a long way or even be transformed from day to night. In fact, styling an outfit with accessories adds personality to the look because no one person would style an outfit the same. Yet, many prefer to spend their cash on clothes rather than jewelry. So, if you're that type of girl then this post is right up your alley. If you've read my previous post on metal-inspired bracelets, then you would know that that was a teaser to this DIY bracelet tutorial.

Making your own jewelry is one of the easiest way to look trendy without splurging on pieces that you might only wear for a couple of times before burying them in the back of your closet. Plus, you'll be the only one rocking your one-of-a-kind jewelry. But if you decide not to wear them anymore, at least you wouldn't feel bad about it because the cost of making them is dirt cheap.

Start ransacking your dad's toolbox and your grandmother's sewing kit for supplies to make this super easy bracelet that cost less than RM2 to make!

You'll need:

• 14 screw nuts (ie: square nuts, hex nuts, etc)
• Three 23cm satin rope
• A large button
• Scissors
• Heavy duty glue

Methods:

1. Gather the three satin ropes at one end and tie all of them together with a loop knot as a closure to the bracelet.

2. Glue the ends of the knot you made earlier to secure it in place. Then, trim off the excess rope.

3. Tape your ropes to your work surface to anchor them in place and prevent them from sliding. Alternatively, you can clip the ropes to a clipboard. Then, start braiding your ropes for 1/2 - 1 inch depending on your personal preference and the size of your wrist.

4. Add a screw nut to the outer rope on the right and push it all the way to the top, then cross it over the middle rope to hold the screw nut in place.

5. Add another screw nut to the outer rope on the left and push it all the way to the top, then cross it over the middle rope again like regular braiding. Make sure that you only add the screw nuts to the outer ropes one at a time and never the middle rope.

6. After you've used up all the screw nuts, make a regular braid like in Step 3 for about 1/2 - 1 inch.

7. Tie two ropes (side and middle) together with a knot using the other side rope.

8. Push the rope you used to tie a knot earlier through one of the button holes from the back.Then, push it through another hole diagonally from the top, then, under and over again through the remaining holes to form a crisscross pattern.

9. Tie a knot at the back of the button to secure it in place. Trim off all the excess ropes. Don't forget to add glue to the ends of the knots to secure them in place as well.

Voila! You have a new bracelet. Make sure you allow the glue to dry before you wear it out.

What do you think?

What do you think of this tutorial? What are your thoughts on the hardware inspired bracelets? Would you try this trend or have you tried it? Have you got your hands on DIY bracelets or any other jewellery? If you did, share with me your DIY tutorials.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Flat-tastic Smoking Slippers

If you knew me personally, you would know that I love wearing my skyscraping heels on dates, special ocassions, nights out or when I'm simply in the mood. As much as I love teetering around in hazard-tripping stilettos, I would say I'm more of a flats-kinda-girl - I seek retreat from my trusty comfortable flats any day.

Every woman I know who wears achingly high heels would have a pair of flats stashed in their cars or under the office desk for emergency relief of their feet and back aches. But why reveal them in chagrin when they deserve as much attention as their stiletto counterparts? With a plethora of flats to choose from: brogues, loafers, oxfords, slippers, moccasins and ballet flats; your style would still not be sacrificed and is anything but flat except your footwear.

Give a chance to your flats to make as big of a shoe statement as heels, or even bigger. Turn the heat up this season by switching your classic ballet flats to these wallet-friendly smoking slippers that ooze the right amount of androgyny in its masculine cut to add class, spunk and dressiness to any look. All you need is just the right pair in an eye-catching shade and design with just as much sass as heels and an in-your-face attitude written all over it.

Zalora; RM49.90 RM39.92; available in green, blue, tan and black
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Shoes Haven; RM42
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Lunavocy; RM46; available in pink and blue
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Lunavocy; RM51; available in blue and brown
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Lolita Polka Dot; RM55; available in red and blue
Similar also available at Vincci
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Lunavocy; RM69; available in black, silver and gold
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Lunavocy; RM73; available in leopard brown, leopard red and leopard black
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Cotton On; RM79; available in leopard, red, pink, black, green, yellow and tan
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The Arrogant Minnie; RM89; available in blue, black and red
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Smoking slippers are as easy to style as ballet flats but they're more versatile as they could go from casual to formal. Opt for a pair in black patented leather and they would be dressy enough to sport to the office à la Alexa Chung.

I like pairing my hot pink studded pair that I purchased last autumn with a neutral-coloured outfit and minimal accessories to play up my already edgy flats by making them the statement piece. Plus, they make a simple, nonchalant outfit looks like it took more time to put together than it actually did. I couldn't be happier that this autumnal trend is back again for another year on an escalated level; the more reasons to wear my menswear-inspired loafer more often.

DV by Dolce Vita shoes; £39/RM195
H&M top via F.O.S; RM20
H&M jeans; £19.99; RM119
Bag (gifted); price unavailable
Kitschen bracelet; RM10 (last seen here)
Forever 21 necklace; RM7
Moris belt; RM25

These suede smoking slippers are by far my most expensive purchase of shoes and they gave me blisters within the first month of trying to break them in. Like all leathers, they took awhile to become soft and pliable but the soreness from wearing them got me so close to disappointment and regrets of burning my cash; fortunately they proved to be as comfortable as they're stunning and now my most prized pair of shoes.

Photos by Teo Yi Ting

Because I have a penchant for walking fast (result of living in chilly England for a year) and dislike restricted movements from wearing heels, which sometimes makes me feel like I have something stuck up my arse, I kept my eyes opened for nude-coloured flats that go with any outfit. It helps that the flesh tone colour makes my legs appear longer too. Luck was certainly on my side when I spotted the last pair of tan-coloured smoking slippers on the rack for a discounted price at Cotton On last month. I give them the upper hand because they didn't savage the skin on my feet like my Dolce Vita's even on the first wear.

Now, don't my Dolce Vita's look happier with a new sister as it won't be overworked?

Cotton On; RM79 RM30

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on the smoking slippers trend? Would you wear them or do you prefer heels over flats? Which is your favourite? How would you style it? If you know of other places to shop for affordable smoking slippers, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!
 

Arm Candy Obsession

In case you hadn't noticed, I have a fetish over piling on jewellery with my ensemble (I can't leave the house without at least wearing an ornament) albeit my rather small, pathetic collection of them. In spite of that, I'm determined to expand my collection without breaking the bank. So, I spent the afternoon crafting my masterpiece of a chic and edgy bracelet from scraps and pieces I discovered in my sewing box and some unused metal hardware I found lying around in the toolbox for years.

Metal inspired pieces are huge this season with studs and pins adding flair and character to classic leather jackets, denim shorts and ordinary tote bags. But because I'm a wimp when it comes to overhauling my pretty okay clothes (unless I'm absolutely sure about it), I thought I would better channel my Project Runway to something a little less daunting that does not give me sudden panic attack in case it turned into Project Throw-Away.

I've noticed a lot of metal nut bracelets lately, both on the market and DIY; I thought it's a really clever idea of introducing something so industrial and make it into something extremely wearable injected with punk rock vibe and an uncanny feminine feel to it at the same time.

Rather than making mine with hex nuts like every other style gurus, I opted for some silver square nuts, merely to be different. FYI, angular geometric shapes are trending this season.

I'm definitely making more of this inexpensive bracelet in different styles and colours to stack them all on my arms. Time to shop for more supplies.

What do you think?

Would you like me to make a DIY tutorial on this bracelet? What are your thoughts on the hardware inspired bracelets? Would you try this trend or have you tried it? Have you got your hands on DIY bracelets or any other jewellery? If you did, share with me your DIY tutorials.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!