What to wear on a wet Monday?

Let's take advantage of this unusual weather and deck out our cardigans, sweaters, jackets, ponchos, capelets, turtlenecks, scarves, boots, brollies that's been sitting in our wardrobes and waiting to be worn! This incessant rain can't dampen our spirits cos it lets us play with our wardrobe...and cuddle up with our loved ones! :)

Luuurves shopping surprises....

I love surprises! Came across this boutique yesterday specializing in work dresses while looking to replace my black pencil skirt from my recent wardrobe clearance :) At first glance, MICO seemed like a lesser-cousin of Blum - with its narrow aisles, lack of full-length mirrors, and some matronly-looking pieces fit for my grand-aunt. *eeks* Fortunately, my 'good finds'-radar got the better of me, and I ended up browsing through its collection - and was pleasantly surprised!

It was a good place to shop cos:

~there's lots of styles to choose from! - whether you're looking for something simple (e.g. The Corporate LBD), something more unique (if, like me, you have loads of work dresses already), or something more versatile which could transition into a cocktail dress after work... it caters to everyone.

~dresses are of good quality - fabric does not bunch up or cling; lining included

~it guarantees fit - MICO has a range of sizes to choose from, and if the fit is not perfect, they alter to suit you. Don't work to fit into your clothes, but make sure they are worked to fit you!

I'm so excited to bring on my three new additions - the two new work dresses from MICO, and my next post! For now, I'll have to continue the search for the perfect black pencil skirt... Till then!

Where to find MICO:

Centrepoint #02-17

Great World City #01-10 (that's where I stumbled upon them)

Goodies Galore! There's currently a sale up to 50% discount! OCBC card holders get 15% off regular-priced items too. Hurry!

fretting over fashion fads?

“All straight men can’t appreciate haute couture,” my girlfriend laments. “A part of my wardrobe is dedicated to normal *look of disdain* clothes, just so I have something to wear on dates. Otherwise, all I get is envious looks from gay men.”

This is my friend who pays close attention to the latest Spring/Summer 2011 pieces paraded along the runway by renowned designers such as Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Jason Wu etc. She’s all about fashion fads and trends – never mind that those Balmain-inspired shoulder pads could risk looking like she just popped out of an 80s movie; or that Marc Jacobs maxi-dress might get her mistaken for a gunny sack relay participant.

I’ll admit, I am not as diligent (and wealthy – yes, I believe one needs deep pockets to invest in high-fashion) to keep abreast of these latest trends. Well, yeah, I know this season is about bright, bold, neon colours, and maxi has been taken to a next level from dresses to jumpsuits and pants. But I’m not about to revamp my wardrobe…

…because not everything in-fashion is suitable for me. Consider (1) skin tone (giant walking highlighter alert! Neon-yellow clashes with my sandy complexion), (2) body shape including height (maxi-dresses make my vertically-challenged frame look frumpy), figure, and other physical assets you might be hiding for being enslaved to ‘fashion’. For example, I know that gladiator sandals will hide my shapely legs... And there's a difference between unnecessarily critical about ourselves, and being self-aware – it doesn't matter if we have physical imperfections, we just need to know how to play up and flaunt our assets!

…because not everything in fashion is ‘practical’. Practicality takes into account our occupation (think: will your boss see you differently? fashion/media/art executives tend to have a reason to dress more avant-garde), occasion (is your magenta eye-shadow too loud for a meet-the-parents session?), roles in life, lifestyle, climate etc.

…because I’m comfortable with my personal style! Of course, we shouldn't let our personal preferences be ruled by others’ opinions. In fact, I give my haute couture-chasing friend utmost respect because she is confident enough to carry off whatever she likes. She’s knows what she wants to communicate to the rest of the world, and does it with style. This, in my opinion, is the reason why she looks so fabulous, rather than the fashion fad per se.

Fashion fads, when selected appropriately, do add a little fun and spice to our wardrobes. We just need to choose the right ones according to our personal preferences, complement ourselves, and suit the occasion we're wearing them to!I'm going to take advantage of this season's collection to pick up a few cobalt-blue, emerald-green, and my favourite pastel-pink outfits! What about you?

Wardrobe Classics for Work #1: White Shirt

As we inch towards the end of the second work week in 2011, are we beginning to feel like our wardrobes are shrinking? Somehow after being used to dressing down (or up for that countdown party that we attended), we increasingly feel dreary to pick out what to wear every morning, and that we have "nothing to wear"!

Here's a sure bet, especially for a Monday morning:

A crisp, white, cotton, collared, long-sleeve well-fitted shirt impresses during a job interview, aces that CxO presentation, and brings gravity at an important client meeting. The minute you put it on, you feel like you've got everything under control, you feel good, you feel confident.

My style has always been to add a little personal touch to my dressing, especially the White Shirt, which can sometimes look rather plain. I love wearing cuff-links cos that's such an easy way to accessorize - and personalize - a white shirt without being overtly flamboyant. Another subtle way is to embroider your name, initials, or a special date on one of the cuff.

I rambled off several descriptives earlier - "crisp, white, cotton, collared, long-sleeve well-fitted". Indeed, if we change any of these variables, the White Shirt communicates a different feel altogether. Short-sleeves gives a less formal look; silk projects elegance and softens your overall appearance; ruffles and ribbons exude feminity and playfulness. And because of these slight nuances, I'd categorize these as variations to the White Shirt, and hence not really a timeless Wardrobe Classic. Although there's no stopping us from getting these variations too! I myself have 5 of these, and I love them cos they are so easy to pair!

Where to get nice shirts? Raoul is my favourite boutique for shirts. Raoul's European fabric shirts are really sharp and smart looking. Their friendly and helpful staff will also assist your selection, and most importantly, its free alteration service ensures that your chosen piece fits you to a T. (If there's something you can't compromise about a shirt, it's the fit. ) What's more, Raoul knows that shirts are meant for men. So they sew an 'inner button' (buttons from the interior of your shirt) between the 2nd and 3rd buttons from the collar, and this tiny but amazing little knob flattens the fabric around the chest area, preventing any peek-a-boo situations!

The Tourist

Breathtaking scenery, beautiful leads, and Paul Bettany's charming - and genuine - British accent... Despite bad reviews from critics and movie go-ers, I actually enjoyed the movie! Venice has always been one of my favourite European cities. While I didn't travel around in style like Elise (Angelina Jolie's character), watching the Rialto, fruit market by the river, and the crazy pigeons at St Mark's Square come alive definitely brought back many fond memories of my own adventures there!

Apart from immersing in Venice's romantic charm, I couldn't help but notice, admire, and envy how Elise looked in every scene. Ok, of course, she's Angelina Jolie, and Angelina Jolie looks perfect - anyhow. Before dismissing the possibility that we'll ever be able to look like that, I thought - well, actually we can. Yes, I agree that it's unrealistic to not have a single strand of hair out of place in a boat chase, or to be able to sashay through cobbled-stone streets in those killer heels... but here's what I thought are some ways to achieve her look without an entourage of make-up artists and stylists in tow :)

SOLID COLOURS are easy to wear

I love solid colours. They're easy to wear and pair. They're also easy to create different looks with - elegant classic black, chic royal blue, pretty pastel pink, or pristine ivory white. Boring you say? Not if we look out for solid-coloured pieces with the following:

1. Fabric - Little Black Dresses are our safest bets whenever we need to attend a party or formal function. The gown Elise wore to a gala dinner (see bottom left picture) gave a whole new meaning to THE LBD. Despite being all black, layers of silk tulle and net created a soft/feminine feel, while the satin bodice gave a regal look and structure to the gown.

2. Special touches - We can also look out for little touches that can stylize an otherwise typical outfit. How? When we see black suits, we think corporate and boardrooms. Take the black suit (see top right picture) as an example - funnel collar gives a feminine look, 3/4 sleeves makes it slightly less formal, big buttons provide an anchor for overall the outfit.. matched with a string of pearl necklace and black pumps (which are both Essential Accessories) to complete the look.

*Tip: If you love solids like me, take note that types of fabric and special touches communicate a certain look and feel. We can all look good with minimal efforts by playing with fabrics (see top left picture of Elise's simple white silk dress) or selecting pieces which comes with special touches such as puffy sleeves, frills, lace, ribbons etc. Look out for these things the next time you go shopping to save you headache from thinking about how to spice up your wardrobe!

ACCESSORIES are like cherries on a cake

The diamond choker, camel cashmere wrap, crimson scarf, nude elbow gloves/clutch/pumps... Without these items, the outfits could look a little bare, but still passable. Accessories complete the look. They are what differentiates an A+ from an A.

*Tip: If you don't have the habit of wearing accessories, you might find it a chore to have to think of how to match them. Have some of these Essential Accessories on hand to glam up any look: a string of pearl necklace, and pearl studs or short dangling earrings to go with; statement-piece diamond pendant with diamond studs (opt for crystals for budget purposes); black pumps and clutch (have a set of nude too to match lighter colours); silk shawl.

POISE wins the day

I thought that Elise got more attention than she deserved in the film. For some reason, the director had heads turning to look at Elise as she enters in almost every scene. That being said, I can't help feeling that she not only looks good in whatever she wears, she knows she does. Her confidence exudes in her poise and posture.

Or maybe she made us believe that she's confident. Poise can come naturally inside out, yet it can also be trained in a rather technical way. While the nose in the air thing is a bit too much for me, we can learn from her straight back, squared shoulders, chin up, and a deliberate walk.

*Tip: I believe that how we look communicates who we are, how we feel, and what we think of ourselves to the rest of the world. No matter how well-dressed one is, if she is not comfortable and confident of herself, it will show. Love yourself, believe in yourself, and the rest of the world will do the same!

See, it's not that difficult to get Angelina Jolie's look is it? We just need unique solid-coloured pieces, accessories, and to embrace our own style!

New Year Resolutions

It’s that time of the year again for new year resolutions. Some of us would detail a specific plan with action steps, milestones, and end goal in place – “I will lose x kg in 6 months, and I will achieve this by hitting the gym twice a week. I’ve signed up for a gym membership and made appointments with a personal trainer for the next 6 months.” Wow. I think most of us would probably belong in this second category, where we have some idea of what we'd like to achieve in the coming year. It could be finding a new job, getting more work-life balance, settling down, saving up, losing weight, shopping less, or shrinking your wardrobe. But the question is how are you going to ___ (fill in your new year resolution)? No really, what baby steps are you going to take to get there? Or maybe let’s take a step back – Are you even setting a realistic and achievable “resolution" for yourself?

Many times, we start off with this ambitious resolution on 1^st Jan – “I will not shop for the rest of the year.” Now, is that really possible? What happens if we see a really good buy that fits to a T, the style is practical and versatile, it’s a wardrobe classic and it’ll never go out of style, and we can't resist it? Two likely outcomes may happen: (a) we buy it and we feel guilty, or (b) we walk away but there goes that perfect-fitting dress. And we all know how hard a well-fitted piece comes by.

I unknowingly ‘resolved’ one of my many unfulfilled new year resolutions when I shifted house three months ago – I cleared my wardrobe. And I don’t mean simply downgrading two pieces of old, tattered t-shirts to rags. I took out every single piece of item I had in my wardrobe, and went through this process:

LOOK
Is the item still fit for wearing? With time, fabrics fade just as photographs do. If the item is faded, we have to let it go, no matter how much we like it, how we will 'definitely wear it'. Look on the bright side, I now have a legitimate shopping excuse because I have to replace my faded, Wardrobe Classic, black pencil skirt!
*Tip: 'Faded' and 'comfortable' are NOT fashion synonyms! Fading is about the colour intensity and fabric quality. Comfort is about fit, cut, and type of fabric.
*Tip: Replace the faded item if it's a Wardrobe Classic

TRY
Does it fit me well? Time for reality check. This requires a full-length mirror, good lighting, and perhaps an honest friend. Let's face it, our waistlines do change. And when it happens, that sexy body-hugging dress which earned us turned heads and dropped jaws couple of years back might still have that same effect - but for the wrong reasons now. Not all that doesn't fit needs to thrown away. While packing, I'd also created a pile of clothes which would go under the 'knife' (well, maybe just a scissors and some thread). So, does that mean I get to keep the rest? :D
*Tip: "I'll lose 5 kg to fit into this". Oops, that's another new year resolution! Why give yourself pressure to try and fit something that you have grown out of? Love yourself for who you are, and find another piece that complements your body shape/size!

REFLECT
Does it fit into my current lifestyle and my roles in life? Our daily outfits change at different phases of our lives - uniforms in school, jeans & t-shirts in college, suits/shirts/pencil skirts for work, sun dresses/shorts/tank-tops for play. I kept my work clothes (since I'll continue working for a while), most of my play clothes, and threw away most of those college t-shirts which I'd not worn for years. I think generally if an item has not been worn in 2 years, it's gotta go (I'm sentimental, so make that 1 for you).
*Tip: "Oh, I could wear that to a costume party!" does not count as an excuse to keep it. If you really have to, put them away in a box to save space and unclutter your wardrobe.

So with that, my wardrobe shrunk by almost 20% (and did some good by donating them to charity organizations)! Something I've been wanting to do for years! Of course, I had a little nudge to drive me out of that inertia, but the main success factor to make it happen, is to break down any new year resolution, goal, or task into bite-sized actionable steps.

I'm off to do the same now for my other 2011 resolutions! So should you!