Fashion Rut is The Pits

Its that time of the year again. Nope, I'm not talking about summer where skimpy string bikinis, candy-coloured flip flops and Banana Boat coconut tanning oil start reappearing on everybody's...well, body.

I'm talking about that time of the year where the fashion tribe starts falling into a fashion rut. Where every stylish girl worth her weight in salt nail polish starts to feel the rising temperature levels and the onslaught of the lethargy monster even before she steps out of her door. Because, really, with temperatures like these, how can one even summon up enough energy to go anywhere? Needless to say dress up.

I, myself, have fallen into a deep fashion rut and can't get out. My style of late has been...somewhat ho-hum, bordering on a 'I-can't-be-bothered-to-care-what-I-look-like' spectrum. Whilst I would have gladly worn my favorite floaty seafoam green chiffon scarf out a month or two ago, this time, I somehow seem to want to step out in only denim shorts and a tank top. Its come to a point where I abhor wearing denim shorts solely because I keep doing it.

The weird thing is, I didn't really 'get it', not till recently. On a very hot and balmy afternoon where I was scheduled to meet my girls for a spot of high tea, I almost didn't turn up. Why? Despite spending almost 2 hours standing in front of my closet rifling through my clothes, deciding what to wear, I still couldn't convince myself that what I had on was good enough to go.

Now, I'm not gonna chant the oft-quoted statement that 'But..I don't have any clothes!', because I am one to be honest with myself. I DO have enough clothes. I just don't have enough clothes that I am satisfied with anymore. Everything that once looked like something I'd wear ad nauseum now just makes me shake my head in distaste.

When did everything fall into the "ugly" basket? I need to find me some inspiration, stat.

 XO,

Thrift Store Shopping

Who wants overpriced, overly trendy clothes from clean, bright shiny stores when you can get potentially ugly, tacky clothes from the 80s from grungy, dark and dank stores with racks crammed to the hilt with clothes?

Haha, I jest.

Thrift store shopping is such a guilty pastime of mine I'm surprised I haven't done it often enough. Rifling through stuffed racks gives me such an immense thrill, the thrill of the chase and eventually, of the find.

I even delight in dressing down FOR thrift store shopping, which is such an event in my life that I need an outfit especially tailored for thrift store shopping. And yes, there is a way to dress for thrift store shopping, like how there is a way to dress for lazy Sunday brunches, and also like how there is a way to dress for popping in and out of exclusive boutiques along tree-lined paths.

But seriously, thrift store shopping is perfect for fickle(?) fashionistas like me. More often than not, I fall in love with something, only to fall out of love with it after a few months as a new love comes into the picture. What's more, I also really dislike wearing something that is instantly recognizable because its such a popular print/patter/design that everyone can tell when you got it from where.

Where's the appeal in that?

Thrift shopping does away with all that, where I am guaranteed unique pieces for a steal (unless of course you go & buy some Forever21 'thrift' top, which is just ridiculous seriously) With thrift shopping, I can pick up vintage tea scarves, delicate quality brooches, perfectly broken-in carmel brown boots... the list continues.

And since fashion is always recycling itself, it is almost always certain that you'll be able to pick up something or another that is in season now, but with non of the cliched 'runway inspired' design.

Remember the strong shoulders trend with the signature puffed up shoulders? So so so overdone. If I want strong shoulders, I'd get something really 80s! Like a really padded mesh top. Who cares if it really looks like you unearthed it from your grandmum's cabinet recesses? You definitely arent, so wear what you like I say.

Isn't this how everything goes in fashion?

P.S. My favorite vintage/thrift look by hkldnsfmode from Chictopia


XO

Rock The Boat(shoes)

I'll need some extra pairs of eyes to aid me in my search for my newest fashion obsession. Helpful volunteers get my eternal gratitude!

For the past few weeks, a certain shoe style has been running through my head. Not a particular shoe though, mind you, but a particular style. And nope, it isn't 6-inch staggeringly high stilettoes, and neither is it a perky Liberty floral print summer espadrille, and it isn't that now ubiquitous black studded gladiators. Instead, I'm pining for a perfectly cute pair of boat shoes made out of soft calfskin leather that I'm planning to wear everywhere.




If that proves mite too difficult to locate, I promise I'll settle for one in distressed leather with gorgeous forest green panels.



But most importantly, they MUST be boatshoes. They have to have that adorable leather stringing across the top and sides of the shoe that remind me so of hardy drawstring bags that I used to love so much as a kid. What's more, I also love that it is what fashion really should be all about, comfortable yet studiously cool.

This fash-session (aka fashion obsession) started when I chanced upon an entire rack of sturdy tough Sperry Topsiders in a store and even though they were clearly for guys, I couldn't help but salivate over them. A particular pair,a rich mustard yellow one, really caught my eye. That bright cheery pair popped right out of the stack and somehow, just managed to stick itself in my head. And from then on, inexplicable really, but I fell head over heels for boatshoes.

Just thinking of how I can match boatshoes to an outfit excites me to no end, not only will the sole addition of boat shoes to any outfit give that Alexa Chung vibe which I so love, it will also let me give up on the tired ballet flats that everyone is sporting.

Off with ballet flats and on with the boat shoes!

Till next time,

Make It Light-Washed : Soft Denim Pieces

It's been far too long. Don't get me wrong, I love writing, especially about fashion and even more so about up and coming trends I believe will hit it big in both the style stakes and in hearts of style-savvy girls everywhere. However, it's been really tough for me to really have time to sit down and write a great trend story. I want everything I put up here to be no less than perfect, and sometimes I really don't have the time.

But today, I made myself really sit down and write. I owed everyone that much at least.

So, enough of the chatter, I'll get down to the trend at hand.

Besides the requisite summer wear like tank tops and denim cutoffs that everyone sports, summer wear to me is all about loose, easy fit pieces that are not only chic but most importantly, keep me cool without looking just like everyone else. Personally, I adopt quite a different approach to warm weather wear. While hemlines rise and sleeves shrink in the summer for most, I resolutely do the opposite. I opt for long sleeves - rolled up of course, and bohemian gypsy skirts or light linen pants. Which brings me to our focus today - Light-washed, easy denim pieces that are soft as an old flannel shirt.

I've seen many versions of this trend, but the one that will win the hearts of many, I believe, will be the oversized denim shirt, with only a faint blue wash to reveal that it belongs to the denim category. Like a comfy old denim shirt that has been washed and rewashed so many times, this season's hottest new trend seems to be what every girl should already have lying somewhere in her wardrobe.If not, head to Topshop for the perfect worn in denim shirt, made oversized specially so you don't have to get a few sizes up. A close lookalike comes in the form of a belted version from Forever 21. Zara's Spring/Summer collection also has a few great looking ones which are on sale right now.


Topshop


Forever 21

Wear this with nothing else but sheerest of stockings,fierce dark booties and a bowler hat. I know I will!

XO,

Chictopia Madness

Aren't we all guilty of voyeurism? Reality tv shows, browsing other people's happy snaps, and of course reading blogs! Are all symptoms of our voyeuristic nature. For the fashion obsessed however, voyeurism comes in the form of Who Wore What When?

Don't pictures of celebrities in fashionable outfits thrill us to no end? The impeccable mix and mash of textures and colours and that attitude to match, simply irresistable. The icons of our fashion voyeuristic nature has to be the Olsen twins. After all, this was how they were recognised far beyond their numerous tween roles and have now been elevated to style divas nature.

Of course, it isn't that often that we really get to see uber fashionable style on celebs and to satisfy our cravings, many who are in the know turn to our alternatives. Like The Sartorialist, Facehunter etc..., hell, even chic looking stylish people are worth looking at.

However, while these 2 may be all the rage, I personally subscribe to another. Chictopia.

Chictopia is way underrated for its absolute treasure trove of baubles it hides and compared to the overly high fashion (read:couture) looks that The Sartorialist captures, I prefer the younger,chic set, with styles that suit my age and my wallet.

Chictopia is not monopolized by a single lensman as the rest are. Instead, it is like a fashionified version of Facebook, where all-too-cool girls post up (almost) daily pictures of themselves in outfits, for the Chictopians to rate.

I have been blown away by the sheer chicness of the Chictopians as the girls (and some guys) can always be counted upon to ooze fashion out of their every pore, if in only the way they pose. But this is rare. Of the many chictopians I've seen, most are experts in dressing well and posing great and have that certain aura about them that screams they care more about getting great bargains (aka, Target, H&M, thrift stores, etc...) and looking fabulously chic rather than caring where the labels on their impeccably dressed bods come from. Unlike some we know, who have ZERO ounces of style but yet tries to pretend that labels maketh the woman. Pfft!

Before I sign off, I thought I'd share with you my inspiration of the day - nothing to do with outfit choice, but what ran through my mind as I browsed every look.

"Fashion is simply a state of mind, its either you believe that you are chic in whatever you happen to be wearing, or you don't. And that can turn the ugliest outfit into the hippest and coolest, or vice versa."

I'm right, no?

Toodles,

Isn't celebrity style watching such a guilty indulgence? Celebs stepping out of their homes in high fashion, sometimes making it, sometimes not so much. But celebrity style watch has always been one of my favorite ways to while away a day, seeing how these celebrities wear their Chanel and their Jimmy Choos. And especially for certain celebrities, their style is all the more fascinating, how their eye for fashion really stands out and most importantly, it makes hoards of fashion-crazed fans want to emulate that look.

Today, our style star is Lauren Conrad, and saying that she has great style is not surprising to most, because of her internship at Teen Vogue (as seen on The Hills) and her clothing line. It's not just that she has a great eye for what looks good on her but that she can match her clothes so well. For example, that beige cropped jacket on her black dress with the lovely tulip skirt is just amazing. The dress by itself would be pretty but perhaps a little shy of plain. But together, its perfect. That cropped jacket just makes her waist look daintily tiny. How cute!

Lauren Conrad, you're a star in my style books!

Loves,

It's that time of the trend again. It's the time when a certain new trend appears that receives, well, quite a lot of talk. Trends that may seem cool and en vogue for some, but rubbish and plain wrong for others. There's usually two clear cut camps for this, you're either for or against it.

As seen from these pictures, apparently, the fashion-savvy set celebrities in Hollywood are clearly loving it. These celebrities are the ones that fashionistas all over the globe worship, for their impeccable sense of style and that oh-so-enviable attitude to carry it off. The Olsen sisters, Mischa Barton, Lauren Conrad, Rachel Bilson..., these are those girls who are never seen less than gorgeous outside, and who possess their own style personality, able to turn any outfit into their own.

So by the looks of it, shouldn't we be dashing to the stores to grab a few of these?

Not necessarily. Take heed. These are LEATHER leggings. Leather, especially to us girls in warmer weather, is practically a foreign term. No one can dream of walking down the streets in a leather jacket, no matter how cold the day is. What more leather leggings that wrap tightly around your legs, giving them almost no room to breathe?
Leggings is also the other problem. Unless you have fantastic looking pins like these celebs, forget about venturing out in anything resembling leggings. You'd be better off on the beach in your tiniest bikini, cellulite and all.

Perhaps this is why there's so much talk about this trend. All the cool girls are wearing it but I can't because this trend is flat out unflattering. What a pity.

Luckily for moi, I probably will be able to carry this off perfectly, and I cannot rush to the stores fast enough to pick up a pair. Members Only Leather Leggings

Loves,