OOTD: Dressy Feet and Shiny Bling

“Fashion does not have to prove that it is serious. It is the proof that intelligent frivolity can be something creative and positive” ― Karl Lagerfeld

Vintage top; price unavailable (last seen here)
Primark jeggings; £8/RM40
Topshop earrings; £3/RM15 (last seen here)
Forever 21 necklace, price unavailable (last seen here; similar here)
Forever 21 ring; RM15; available in antique gold and silver (last seen here)

Photos by Tan Wei Jin

Turning the playground into my runway and scaring kids with my size, bling and makeup after trotting the streets of KL on Tuesday in sky high shoes is my idea of winding down whilst seizing the opportunity as my dressy play date. Perhaps it's only an excuse I find to show you my recent purchases: coral lippie, shiny charm bracelets, sexy black wedges and cool gradient lens wayfarers that made me felt glamorous and modelesque. I bid adieu to my beloved broken Primark wayfarers. May you rest in peace.

Payless wedges; RM103 (2nd item at 50% off); available in black, pink and turquoise
Sephora lip pencil; RM43
Sunglasses; RM20; available at Sungei Wang
Charm bracelets; RM10 each; available at RM10 shop at Sungei Wang

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on my outfit and new purchases?  Which is your favourite item? If you know of other places to shop for these items, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!
 

Collar-ful Affair

Autumn has officially begun (in the fashion world but not the weather in Malaysia of course) but if you're not ready to discard one of your and my favourite spring 2012 trends which you stretched its wearability until summer, then don't.

Collars are unequivocally not the thing of the past; it's such a simple trend that it's recurring this autumn in a better, bigger and bolder way. This season, collars are not limited to Peter Pan style. They come in bold prints, colours and embellishments in various shapes, sizes and textures - and what better way to make a collar stand out than to contrast it with your outfit? After all, that's the purpose. Take cues from Derek Lam, Rodarte and Philip Lim on nailing this trend.

Photos by Marcio Madeira

Unconventional collars are novelty and certainly not understated as they make any outfit look polished, sophisticated and put together. Statement collars are not only visually appealing, they help frame the face and are easy to take a notch up your rather minimal ensemble. They're so easy that they take zero effort in making your outfit look anything but ordinary. They're like icing on a cake - not imperative but always admired. So, spice up your wardrobe in this season's fun and edgy trend with some of these frugal pieces.

Daily Boutique; RM39 RM30; available in black and magenta
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eBay; US$9.59/RM30; free worldwide delivery
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Banilla Berry; RM30; available in pink, white and black
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eBay; US$9.79/RM30.50
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Banilla Berry; RM35
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Daily Boutique; RM42 RM35
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Whitesoot; RM45; available in green and teal
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Little Bits; RM45
Similar also available at Zalora
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Zalora; RM59 RM47.20; available in brown, blue and pink
Also available at Milktee
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eBay; US$19.99/RM62; free worldwide delivery
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Zalora; RM82 RM65.60; available in orange, blue and white
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Supermodel Wardrobe; RM69
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If you're a little tight on cash to spend on tops and dresses that have fabulous collar details, you could always invest in detachable collars, collar necklaces and collar tips. Watch as these transformative pieces perform magic tricks on your sweaters, tops and dresses that you already have in your closet. Your wardrobe instantly expands as these ingenious pieces offer more wear to your clothes and save you big bucks in the long run. These alternatives are absolutely right up the alley of those who are skeptical of the contrasting collar trend.

eBay; US$7.99/ RM24.50; available in soft green, soft pink and 8 more colours; free worldwide delivery
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eBay; US$8.49/RM26.50; free worldwide delivery
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eBay; US$12.69/RM39
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eBay; US$7.29/ RM22.50; available in white and brown
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eBay; US$3.50/RM11
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eBay; US$3.99/RM12.50; available in 28 designs; free worldwide delivery
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eBay; US$4.99/RM15.50
Also available at Luccacal
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ASOS; RM18
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It would be ludicrous to put your talent to waste if you're super crafty and creative. Dive into your Edward Scissorhand mode and start making your own unique collars with intricate details if you must! It is super cheap to make one and you know you'll be the only person to walk down the streets wearing your masterpiece creation. This fancy and easy-to-wear accessory is certainly a gem in the wardrobe, so go crazy and make one too many collars.

P.S. Stay tuned for a DIY collar tutorial.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on the contrasting collar trend? Would you try this trend or have you tried it? Which is your favourite piece? Have you made your own collar before? Share with me your DIY collar tutorial. If you know of other places to shop for affordable clothes with contrasting collars or detachable collars, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Statement Eyewear

A look would not be complete without sprucing it with some accessories, be it a pair of killer stilettos, a chic bag or a fancy belt to cinch in the waist. But what accessory would you reach for to make you feel like a million dollars without all the effort of matching it with your outfit perfectly?

It's no surprise that a pair of sunglasses is apparently the easiest accessory to wear and gets you all the attention you want as soon as you walk out the door. You can never go wrong with a pair of knockout shades irrespective of its shape. The perfect pair of sunnies would instantly make your confidence fly out the roof and make you feel like a rockstar! And thanks to Malaysia's blazing sunshine year round, what better accessory to invest in than sunglasses.

Go on and embrace the resurgence of retro shades with some modern classic wayfarers, 50's cat-eye and 70's round frame a la John Lennon and Old Master Q (also known as Lau Fu Tze), that are bang on trend this year. These chic array of sunglasses styles would go easy on your wallet too.

eBay; US$1.93/RM6; available in black and brown; free worldwide delivery
Similar available at Luccacal, Romwe and OC Shades in small, medium and large sizes of different colours
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OC Shades; US$5.RM15.50; available in black, green and white
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Forever 21; RM27.50; available in black and brown
Similar available at eBay and OC Shades
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OC Shades; US$10/RM31.05; available in gold back, gold brown, colour black and colour brown
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OC Shades; US$12/RM37.30; available in tortoise and black
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OC Shades, US$12/RM37.30, available in black emerald, black silver, tortoise brown and floral
Similar available at eBay and Luccacal
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ASOS; £12/RM60
Similar available at eBay
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If you are the daring fashionista who can't be bothered of what others would think of your style and possess attitude bigger than Snooki's hair, then you could definitely pull off these fun, quirky and futuristic shades.

eBay; US$1.69/ RM5.30; available in 6 colours; free worldwide delivery
Also available at Luccacal and OC Shades
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OC Shades, US$12/RM37.30; available in black and blue
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OC Shades; US$12/RM37.30; available in black, blue, pink and red
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OC Shades, US$12/RM37.30; available in black and white
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If you haven't heard, there's a rule when it comes to choosing the best frames that suit your face shape. I, however, personally believe that if a pair of sunnies can make you look and feel fabulous, that's the perfect pair. It takes more than just a face shape to rock certain sunglasses perfectly; it takes a whole lot of confidence than face shape to make any sunglasses look great on the wearer. So, why bother with the rules? In fact, they should be broken to explore the uncharted territories of fashion.

A statement eyewear can transform any look from blah to stylish in mere moments. Plus, it protects your eyes from the harsh sunshine, which is what sunglasses are really for before the aspect of fashion comes into play.

Vincci round sunglasses; RM29 RM23.20; available in brown and black

Cotton On knit top; RM40
Cotton On bralet; RM15 (similar here)
River Island shorts; £10/RM50; last seen here (similar here and here)
Forever 21 ring; RM15; available in antique gold and silver
Forever 21 necklace, price unavailable (similar here)
Vintage backpack; price unavailable

Photos by Tan Wei Jin

If you hadn't already known, Aldo, Forever 21 and Vincci Accessories boast amazing selections of statement eyewear at a bargain that are sure to knock your socks off! So be sure to visit these stores.

P.S. Pardon my messy hair. I was in dire need of a haircut.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on statement eyewear? Which is your favourite shades style? What are your signature shades? Would you rock a pair of quirky futuristic sunnies? If you know of other places to shop for affordable eyewear, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave a comment below and tell me what you think!

Don't Forget to Wear Protection!

As women grow older, they secretly wish to have younger looking skin as they blow the candles on their birthday cakes each year but little did they know that it's actually possible and I'm not even referring to botox or plastic surgery. Anti-aging skincare products are widely sold in the market to women who wish to reverse visible skin damage; women are willing, if not desperate, to spend obscene amounts of money on these products to see results. But why die trying turning back time when prevention is ultimately possible and in fact better than cure? So, start young before you have the need to empty the racks of these products from your local drugstores before you even hit 30!

Do you apply sunscreen? Do you apply it everyday before you go out regardless of the weather? Do you apply sunscreen even if you're indoors? Do you reapply every few hours after sweating or excessive sun exposure? You are at risk of premature aging if you can't answer yes to all questions. In fact, physicians estimate that up to 90 percent of visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging is caused by sun exposure and not a result of naturally growing older. The most visible skin changes you would notice is your face as the skin on your face is constantly exposed to the sun unlike the rest of your body which is partially protected by clothing. Hence, premature aging as well as skin cancer can be avoided with proper protection from UV radiation with the use of sunscreen.

I'm aware that many women detest wearing facial sunscreen (me including) because of the thick formula that leaves your skin feeling sticky, oily and makes makeup application a pain as it does not adhere well to the sunscreen on the skin, or worse, flakes off sometimes. Well, fret not! Here are some affordable, light, non-sticky formula facial sunscreen that glides smoothly onto your skin and protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays too. Now, there's no reason for you to skip this essential skincare step prior to your makeup application!

Bio-Essence Moisturizing Cream SPF56 40ml; RM29.90 RM23.92; available at Watsons
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       SunPlay Clear Water SPF50 35g; RM32.90 RM27.96; available at Guardian        
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Olay Natural White Sunscreen Lotion SPF30 50ml; RM29.90; available at Guardian
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L'oreal Dermo Expertise UV Perfect SPF50 30ml; RM36.90 RM33.21; available in even complexion and anti-dullness
Available at Watsons
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SunSense Daily Face SPF50 75g; RM44.90 RM38.16; available at Guardian
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The Face Shop Oil Free Sun Cream SPF35 50ml; RM45.90 RM36.72
The Face Shop Aqua Sun Gel SPF40 50ml; RM59.90 RM47.92
Available at The Face Shop stores
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Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion SPF50 30ml; RM44.90; available in anti-dullness and even skin tone
Available at Watsons
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Skin Food Quince Whitening Sunscreen Lotion SPF34 70ml; RM69.90;
Available at Skin Food stores
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Before you run to the nearest drugstore to purchase a bottle of facial sunscreen, look for a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA (causes visible skin damage like wrinkles and fine lines) and UVB (causes the skin to tan, redden and burn) rays. Be sure to get a sunscreen that has at least an SPF 30 to protect your skin from Malaysia's unforgiving sunlight. Having said that, each individual require different levels of sun protection. Click here to find out your recommended sun protection according to the skin sun-sensitivity.

Sun damage often take years to reveal itself on the skin. Therefore, daily use of sunscreen is vital and adopting good sun habits will keep your skin looking young for longer and lay you off of anti-aging skincare longer than you think.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts on sunscreen? Do you use them on a daily basis? If you know of other brands and places to shop for affordable sunscreen, do share with me.
Don't forget to leave me comment below and tell me what you think!