This is but the End of the Beginning

... back after a long long haitus! Will be resuming posting extremely soon. Now to get back to my cozy loft for a straight, long-awaited and definitely deserved 12 hours of sleep...

A Timely Reminder...

When you want to relieve stress and log onto your favourite sites and you see this:













you know you have no choice but to go back to slogging...

but the end is very very near!!!

Dr. Martens, Cure me from Wanting!

These few weeks, I've shopped lots, studied lots, slept extremely late, ate lots, I'm still kinda energetic, so here's to the last three weeks of the term!

I know Luella's Spring 2008 shows have made the blogger rounds a million times a million fashion years ago, but I'm not a stickler for being trendy and will wear the same few things till I find another object to fixate on...
So I will still say I'm still rather fixated on the light light layering for the outfits in the Luella show.

The tee-and-skirt/shorts-and-maybe-an-unlined-blazer combi (the weather only permits this much layering) has been serving me well, but after looking at the Luella outfits, I think the one thing which is sorely missing from my wardrobe now is a pair of boots with a lot of holes-and-lace action. I'd love a really pale pink pair.





















(Pictures from Style.com)

It isn't any surprise then that the ongoing Dr. Martens Design Competition 2008 caught my eye when I was picking up postcards a few weeks ago. Submit your designs and people all over the world vote for their favourites. Two designs will be selected, one by highest number of votes, the other a panel of judges will decide.

I had plans to join, but the hectic schedule meant only a sneak peek occasionally for me. I'm not that keen on the pairs of Dr. Martens sold locally since they cost well above $100 and there is extremely limited stock in extremely basic colours and is extremely difficult to get hold of. Nevertheless I'm intrigued by the designs churned out...












Above designs by Tim Low, Annette Abolins, Mark Goss, Auralee Postman, Yeo Tze Qing, Cherie Balowski, Emily Rose Kellerman and Jessica Lopez Clemot.

I'm still on the lookout for comfortable oxfords/ brogues and Marni-inspired shoes/ pointy wedges...

Accesso-rings

It's been so long ever since I've posted. Due to the extremely hectic days I've had, I haven't gotten a chance to sit down properly! Posts will most probably resume at a two-days-a-post pace I hope.

Anyway, I have never given accessories much thought, partly due to the fact that the weather here is too unbearable for me to wear necklaces and bracelets since when I'm out, I tend to sweat so excessively I really do better free of those additional adornments. However, a recent peruse of Etsy has left me yearning for some, in the form of rings rather than their larger counterparts.











I generally prefer rings with a single focus, but the focal point has to be eye-catching and make a statement. This coral-coloured flower ring above is one of my favourites.
(From lulucoco)
















This ruby ring with gold twists of wire and faceted surface has a very lovely feel to it. I love rich colours and this ring will be perfect with almost any outfit.
(From cynthiasheridan)






















Rings composed of different mediums also tickle my fancy. Dark wood and metal look really good in this one...
(From miostudio)





















This is for guys I suppose due to the broad and dramatically clean-cut and bold presentation. But it really appeals to me too...
(From noformdesign)








I love this combination of colours and surfaces. Bright turquoise blue with sparkling faceted red and swirly orange...mhmm...
(From phranne)














This bubble lace ring makes for a simple yet lovely adornment... It's rather large in surface area yet not chunky... I can imagine an outfit based on this ring!
(From ColleenBaran)



















Here's where art and fashion meet, with a very lovely result too. This ring is made of hand-pleated silk and silver wire. What's better than having a pleated doily on your finger?
(From tinctory)










I always save the best for the last... Wouldn't that make the end even sweeter? Here's Wendy Brandes' magnum opus. The skull carved from black onyx and it's surounded by pave tsavorites with diamonds set on the inside of the ring. A kick-ass ring by a kick-ass lady (check out her blog). I want it for my wedding!
















Here's a ring I recently purchased for S$20. The large adornment is faceted onxy with three tiny diamantes each on one side. It is surprisingly versatile and adds that extra weight or oomph when needed.

Thrift/ Vintage Hunting #1: Salvation Army Family Thrift Store (SAFTS)

My very First venture into the local thrift stores! After seeing so many exciting finds other bloggers unearthed, I had to try my luck! This trip took place a few weeks ago and I've only got down to taking pictures (which were really challenging for me since there were so many lighting and camera issues) and posting about them now...

Best Find:
Black Swingy Chiffon Dress with nude satin lining









































Besides the faulty zip, this is in perfect condition. If only I had a 1920s themed party to go to...

Find #2:
Pale Blue dress with tulle adornment at top









































I intend to wear this as a slip or with simple layers over it...

Find #3:
Brand new Lace-Tulle Top from GG<5





















This is a little tight for me but at only $2, I couldn't resist... Me thinks this will look good over a book cover...

Find #4:
A shirt appropriate for the workplace. It is actually a really lovely deep purple but due to the horrid bright light and my lack of skills, the pictures really do not do the shirt justice. The cloth is a gauzy silk texture with many teeny polka dots, and there are satin cloth buttons down the middle.





















Another close up:
















Sadly, outfit pictures are not in order yet as I really lack time and energy to dress up... Hopefully I'll have more posts and outfits by this week...

Splurge on Books

I haven't sat down properly and enjoyed a novel for such a long time due to overwhelming commitments... so for my birthday, a very close aunt of mine gave me vouchers for Borders books! Naturally as a nerd, I was so delighted, but I still spent waaaay more than expected...

Books I bought:
















-'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov
-'Brave New Worl'd by Aldous Huxley
-'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
-'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
-'The Golden Notebook' by Doris Lessing
-'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy

Glossies:

-Numero #92 (the one in Black & White with Catherine McNeil on the cover)
-Cake Magazine Issue Two (Singapore publication)





















I first saw this zine while browsing the racks of magazines in Borders, and this Cake magazine stood out because of its rather intriguing graphic design and attractive colours.

So being the inquisitive person I am, I picked it up and realised it was only SG$8, which is actually rather cheap for a foreign publication which I thought it was. But flipping through the mag, I couldn't help but feel a local vibe coming from the writing and expressions. Hence, a further discovery of the 'Stockists' page at the back revealed that it was indeed a local publication. Which was rather amazing since this magazine really brings local standards to a higher level, what with the special graphics, thought and effort put into.





































The front cover is done up by local think tank, Asylum, which I believe has a store in Ann Siang Hill selling more unique glossies.

From the Editor's Note, apparently this front flap cover is not of digital roses, but actual 800 dark red rose buds bought specifically for this cover flap. The results are indeed gorgeous and my pictures do no justice to the lovely hues.































The fashion shoots in this magazine are much more adventurous and have rather interesting concepts. Also, this magazine is more of pushing boundaries and exploring with different presentations and ideas. I'm also loving the different types of lighting used in the fashion shoots following these. Sadly due to my outrageously inapt skills at photography, the colours turned out all wrong and so it would be a really inaccurate representation...

















I haven't caught wind of Issue One, and am really looking forward to the next issue.

Since I'm on the topic of academic pursuits, here's a picture of the lovely paperweights gifted to my mother by her lovely boss. One's a persimmon while the other is a tangerine.

Modify-It-Yourself #1

Recently, I've been buying too many things I like but will not wear frequently, and hence when I really need new, comfortable clothes, I often find my wallet near-empty. This then lead me to sort out my wardrobe and look for items I do not wear and transform them into items for daily wear.

One such inspiration came from that's just my vibe:




















From Pixie Market

What I found that can be converted:
A striped shirt (excuse the crumples please) from eons ago which I bought for a trip where I had a million layers over it.





















A rough estimation of how it'll turn out after some ironing:

















Since orange is a rather hard colour for me to pull off, I'm highlighting the grey parts instead. I plan to alter the sleeves too and chop a few good inches off...

Another item I found lurking in the closet:
A skirt from a few years ago... I have no idea why I didn't wear this cos it still fits...































What I plan to do:
I'm kind of crazy over tie-dye now... so with the 'clean' canvas state the skirt is in now, I can either dye it in a single colour like this...




















From shopbop

Or two-toned...





















From Forever 21

Or just going crazy and dripping paints of all colours all over...











From Creatures of Comfort

Check back to see the final results and future 'Outfit-A-Day's!

Pictures of a Rainy, Gloomy Day

Don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight... Tomorrow's the start of a new term and the last term I'll be in my school... Plus all the carried-over workload I've yet to clear...

On to more comforting things. I really love the pictures taken by Tommy from Notes by Naive and Yasu from a a A. The perfect lighting, the emotions... ahh if only I could take such gorgeous pictures, pictures which make you feel so connected with the emotions conveyed by the photographer and ultimately make you smile. Nevertheless, this 'quest' has lead to countless experimentations with different angles and setting-fumbling with my trusty digital and phone cameras. Really can't wait till I am able to get hold of a DSLR...

There was a huge scary thunderstorm at around 3pm today... the lightning bolts gave out such bright light and the thunder was really deafening... And so with the intention of getting lovely shots, I whipped out my camera and took a little trip round the house so find lovely lighting or interesting angles...

Pictures below all taken from inside my house...
View from the Balcony:































From Dad's Room:
















From my own room:































Another view from my room:
















I took this shot from my balcony at 12.30am... I really love the soft glow of the moon and the really lovely clouds...

A Trip Worth Making

I found Haji Lane AT LAST!!! After lusting after the purple moccasins for 3 whole months [I first saw them on Bianca on March 14 (I have it recorded in my daily diary and yeah I'm such a geek)], I finally got them on Monday! Wheee~














Surprisingly I managed to squeeze into the 'last pair' of 36! Usually I'm a 37-nearer-to-38, but oh well now I truly believe in 'If there's a will, there's a way'. So way. And I'm definitely going to send it for resizing, and then it'll come back comfortable and sort-of broken in (:

Finding Haji Lane was a ker-razy task! Previously I had haboured ideas of going to Bianca many times before but didn't have the willpower to search for that itsy-bitsy store. But come that Monday, what with the heavily discounted price, my lust for those moccasins gave me that last push to locate that store.














After rounds and rounds of crossing Baghdad Street, Arab Street and Bussorah Street, I finally found that tiny aisle called Haji Lane, after asking a rather helpful owner along Baghdad Street.

Of course I rushed up the stairs (of the Blue Building of course) and lo! MY moccasins (: I can only hope that the very nice salesperson didn't find me weird as by then, I was sweating so profusely and (most probably) looked so earnest to purchase the shoes. Alright I left feeling extremely satisfied (:














It came in a pretty professional box too which serves both as shoe-box and holder so there's no need for a carrier! Smart ladies who love the earth indeed.














I didn't have enough time to walk down Haji Lane (which is really really narrow and compact; all the featured stores (find more info and lovely pictures here: Fashion is Spinach Guide) like White Room and House of Japan are just shoulder-to-shoulder), but they really look inviting. Plus all the colourful and luxurious merchandise along Arab Street...

I can't wait to go back!

Virgin Post!

First post for my own fashion blog! Hope you'll like it! Comments are really appreciated (:

Here are 238 colours, from www.justsayhi.com:

Alice blue, Alizarin, Amaranth, Amber, Amethyst, Apricot, Aqua, Aquamarine, Asparagus, Auburn, Azure
Baby blue, Beige, Bistre, Black, Blue, Blue green, Blue violet, Bondi blue, Brass, Bright green, Bright turquoise, Brilliant rose, Bronze, Brown, Buff, Burgundy, Burnt orange, Burnt sienna, Burnt umber
Camouflage green, Caput Mortuum, Cardinal, Carmine, Carnation pink, Carrot orange, Celadon, Cerise, Cerulean, Cerulean blue, Chartreuse, Chartreuse yellow, Chestnut, Chocolate, Cinnabar, Cinnamon, Cobalt, Copper, Copper rose, Coral, Coral red, Corn, Cornflower blue, Cosmic latte, Cream, Crimson, Cyan
Dark blue, Dark brown, Dark cerulean, Dark chestnut, Dark coral, Dark goldenrod, Dark green, Dark khaki, Dark pastel green, Dark pink, Dark salmon, Dark slate gray, Dark spring green, Dark tan, Dark tangerine, Dark turquoise, Dark violet, Deep cerise, Deep fuchsia, Deep lilac, Deep magenta, Deep peach, Denim, Dodger blue
Ecru, Electric blue, Electric green, Electric indigo, Electric lime, Electric purple, Emerald, Eggplant
Falu red, Fern green, Flax, Forest green, French Rose, Fuchsia, Fuchsia Pink
Gamboge, Gold, Golden brown, Golden yellow, Goldenrod, Grey asparagus, Green, Green yellow, Grey
Han Purple, Harlequin, Heliotrope, Hollywood Cerise, Hot Magenta, Hot Pink
Indigo, Islamic green, Ivory
Jade
Kelly green, Khaki, Klein Blue
Lavender, Lemon, Lemon chiffon, Light blue, Lilac, Lime, Linen
Magenta, Malachite, Maroon, Maya blue, Mauve, Mauve Taupe, Medium blue, Medium carmine, Medium purple, Midnight Blue, Mint Green, Misty rose, Moss green, Mountbatten pink, Mustard
Navajo white, Navy Blue
Ochre, Old Gold, Old Lace, Old Lavender, Old Rose, Olive, Olive Drab, Olivine, Orange, Orange Peel, Orange Red, Orchid
Pale blue, Pale brown, Pale carmine, Pale chestnut, Pale cornflower blue, Pale magenta, Pale pink, Pale red violet, Papaya whip, Pastel green, Pastel pink, Peach, Peach orange, Peach yellow, Pear, Periwinkle, Persian blue, Persian green, Persian indigo, Persian red, Persian pink, Persian rose, Persimmon, Pine Green, Pink, Pink orange, Powder blue, Puce, Prussian blue, Psychedelic purple, Pumpkin, Purple
Raw umber, Red, Red violet, Robin egg blue, Rose, Rose Taupe, Royal blue, Royal purple, Russet, Rust
Safety Orange, Saffron, Sapphire, Salmon, Sandy brown, Sangria, Scarlet, School bus yellow, Sea Green, Seashell, Selective yellow, Sepia, Shamrock green, Shocking Pink, Silver, Sky Blue, Slate grey, Smalt, Spring bud, Spring green, Steel blue
Tan, Tangerine, Tangerine yellow, Taupe, Tea Green, Tea rose, Teal, Tenne, Terra cotta, Thistle, Turquoise, Tyrian purple
Ultramarine
Vermilion, Violet, Viridian
Wheat, White, Wisteria
Yellow
Zinnwaldite