Seeing Red

I recently got this pair of Riot Loco pants with a nice leather trimming at the waist in a deep burgundy, and I love how the rich colour adds some dimension to my outfit. On top of that, it's a colour that is perfect for Autumn/ Winter.

Top: Monki, Pants: Riot Loco, Shoes: Korea, Necklace: H&M, Clutch: H&M

♥,
Fal

The new H&M girl

If you have read the novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, there'll probably be two things that you are anticipating this December. First, the premiere of this dark and exciting thriller, and second, the launch of H&M's Dragon Tattoo collection.

The anti-heroine from this Swedish mystery comes to life through this new women's collection that is set to hit the stores at H&M on December 14. Teaming up with Trish Summerville, one of Hollywood's leading costume designers who also happens to be the costume designer for the film, you can expect a collection with attitude. Inspired by Lisbeth Salander, There'll be nothing short of torn jeans and leather jackets and pieces which exude a dark and urban feeling.

Watch this video for a sneak preview!

♥,
Fal

From the BOB Trunk Show: Atelier Swarovski

Swarovski has always been synonymous with crystal jewelry and accessories that are delicate and simple, which aren't big on designs. But did you know that Swarovski has a more upmarket line geared towards high fashion?

Little known to most people including Fir and myself, this line, aptly named Atelier Swarovski, collaborates with renowned designers such as Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor & Rolf, Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane and most recently Mark Fast. Atelier Swarovski remains true to the brand by encouraging designers to explore the different possibilities of using crystals. As such, every collection features innovative and cutting edge designs, with almost limited edition pieces, since the designer for the Atelier line gets renewed every season.

Fir and I were lucky enough to preview the Atelier Swarovski S/S 2012 collection at the BOB Trunk Show. Big bold statement necklaces and cuffs were featured with the former encrusted with crystals galore and the latter embellished with large crystals.

Fir took a liking to the necklace below, while I took to this gorgeous clutch.

In the saturated market where costume jewelry is abound, its nice to know that there are other options available and Atelier Swarovski is one of them.



 ♥,
Fal

From the BOB Trunk Show: KTZ

UK brand, KTZ is a collaboration between designers Koji Maruyama, Sasko Bezovski and Marjan Pejoski. KTZ, which is short for Kokon To Zai, loosely translates as 'from here to then', which is the brand's philosophy of a transgression or movement of fashion and style.

At first glance, KTZ's designs seem outlandish, even jarring to the senses with its loud prints and clashing elements. This is the design signature of the brand - strikingly graphic in prints and shape. While KTZ is definitely not for the faint hearted, its pieces do grow on you.






KTZ's Spring/Summer 2012 collection, draws inspiration from Africa, using tribal influences such as bright colours, beading and bold pieces. I like to think of it as the tribe leader of the Maasai meets bling.

Fir and I love KTZ's accessories. Bags in odd shapes, such as these clutches and shoes embellished with lots of studs all make great statement pieces in one's wardrobe.









If the name KTZ sounds familiar, its probably because the brand isn't new to Singapore. It was brought in during the Blueprint exhibition earlier this year and introduced as a special A/W 2011 range at Topshop not too long ago.

Hopefully, KTZ will be a permanent fixture on the shelves of shops in Singapore. While not everyone will take to the brand, I can foresee that there will be a cult following of the forward, young and rebellious just like its current list of Hollywood celebrities (Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Nicky Minaj) that it counts as clients.




♥,
Fal

SOARing to great heights

Featured at the BOB showcase that Fal and I attended was Tim Soar. This graphic designer turned DJ turned music consultant to fashion houses (for runway music that is just right) turned fashion designer sure has one hell of a CV that has catapulted him to the upper echelons of the British fashion scene. Tim Soar shifted away from the DJ spotlight and placed himself into the fashion spotlight with menswear design, amid plenty of scepticism from his fashion industry insider friends. Nonetheless, the designer threw himself into it and has since earned himself a reputation year on year at London Fashion Week.

Rice informed us that the collection carried on BOB is pretty much his inaugural womenswear collection. I appreciated the clean lines and neat tailoring that is the essence of menswear that Tim Soar has managed to translate into skirts, dresses, blazers and so on with effortless ease and no pretense. The only issue I have with the collection is that it is a tad too simple. Not that there wasn't enough attention being paid to the detail, tailoring in itself is a detail-focused activity, I guess I was just expecting more than the blatant subtlety.

Nonetheless, fabrics that were used to create these gorgeous tailored pieces were in themselves a pleasant surprise. Touch that wool blazer and instead of a heavy and rough textile that feels like wool, you'll be taken aback, in a good way of course, by the soft, silky fabric that slides right off that finger. What appears to be a thick, woolly blazer is actually a silk blazer, soft to the touch, printed like wool, perfect for the warmer weather that is spring/summer.



Another item of interest was the pencil skirt, which looks like 6 of daddy's old silk ties cut up and pieced together to form a wonderfully tailored skirt, haphazardly striped because obviously, ties are too oddly shaped to be sewn in a straight line. I loved the sense of spontaneity and fun in this skirt and I'm actually toying with the idea of trying one out on my own with (yes) 6 of daddy's old silk ties (if he would let me).



Tim Soar admits the heavy influence of menswear on his ladies' collection probably because of the huge archive he has to draw on through his experience designing for men over the years. Nonetheless, a womenswear collection is the perfect outlet for some of his designs which are too feminine for the menswear collections. Taking things slowly, Soar did not want to try too many things simultaneously in his first collection, which explains the clean cuts and crisp lines.



This designer definitely does not take things that slow; he is still dedicated to music and now compiles playlists for hotels more than fashion houses under his label, Music Concrete. My personal subscription is to the belief in fueling and fulfilling the passion that one has for something and achieving a balance between money-work and passion-work. It's not easy as I have come to realise (especially today) and observe, but still, worth a shot. Life is short and if Tim Soar can do it, I think we all can afford to at least try.


♥,
Fir

From the BOB Trunk Show: Belle Sauvage

Tucked away in a corner at the BOB | Best of British Trunk Show was Belle Sauvage's Resort 2012 and S/S 2012 collection. The discreet location was by no means inconspicuous, as the arresting colours and dizzying floral prints drew my attention to it.








The collections marries pastel shades such as yellow, magenta, mint green and lilac with digital floral prints which have been manipulated till you can hardly make them out. All that put together seems like a gaudy mismatch, but Christian Neuman and Virginia Ferreira somehow manages to pull it off. Coupled with powerful feminine elements and slim silhouettes in the form of maxi dresses with high collars or cocktail numbers with smart tailoring such as a heart shaped neckline, fins that protrude from the hips, or just sleek and fitted mini dresses, the inspiration was clearly derived from Hollywood in the 
1920s.









Softening the bold touches of colour and tailoring is the choice of fabric which is a mix of silks and French embroidered tulle.


This dress, that Fir has mad love for, is a good example of the combination of all elements that Neumana and Ferreira have chosen to incorporate in their S/S 2012 collection - mint green chiffon panels with a tailored maxi dress in digital floral prints.





Belle Sauvage's current collections feels modern without being too space age, and feminine without being too pretty.


Will Singaporeans take to the brand? I sure hope they will, because I can't wait to see Belle Sauvage's dresses at stockists' around Singapore.



♥,
Fal

BOB | Best of British Trunk Show

Fir and I visited the BOB | Best of British Trunk Show on Saturday. Held by Glamour Inc., the Trunk Show gave buyers and the press a chance to view brands that were fresh from the runways of London Fashion Week. This event which is in the form of a trunk show/ exhibition gives British designers which have made their mark in the UK a chance to showcase their work to the South East Asian region.



Rice, our guide around the exhibition was kind enough to give us an introduction to the brands featured this year, which included: Belle Sauvage, Hermione De Paula, Boudicca, Lee Klabin, KTZ Kokon ToZai, Lee Lapthorn, Pazuki, Tim Soar, Vassilisa, Micquella, Atelier, George Angelopoulous, Alexia, Jenny Parkham and more.

According to Rice, brands are selected according to the strongest and most influential emerging trends. This year, British designers with two opposing aesthetic directions were chosen - one remaining true to Britain's roots of tailoring and structure, and the other being experimental.

Fir was especially enamoured by Tim Soar's collection which was inspired by menswear, while I fell in love with Bell Sauvage's dresses with digital prints which were very contemporary.






The accessories at the Trunk Show were gorgeous too. One of the highlights was George Angelopolous' bags and jewelry.





The scarves from Alexia gave the illusion of layering as they were made from several different fabrics. In addition, these scarves had a unique touch to them, as they were embellished with sequins, tassels and chains.


Another brand that was featured was Jenny Parkham, which carried jewelry that was apparently a favorite with the Duchess of Cambridge.








Fir and I also liked Cor Sine Labe Doli, which gave a new life to accessories by adding a touch of ceramic to it.

 As it is probably impossible to feature all of our favorite brands from the Trunk Show in one post (trust me, it would be as long as a thesis), we will be bringing to you the designers and brands that we fell in love with at the Trunk Show over the course of this week.

Remember to come back and check this space!





♥,
Fal

UNESTABLISH to establish

With the plenitude and variety of stores online, shopping is definitely more interesting, not to mention we are exposed to more foreign labels and hence, their fashion and style, perfect for freshening our individual fashion outlooks. Fal and I learnt of a new multi-label online retail store, UNESTABLISH.COM that allows us to do just that, freshen our fashion outlook and establish (ironically) style that is unique. The online store features both menswear and womenswear from foreign and local labels. There's Kling from Spain, The Furies from USA and menswear labels like Life/After/Denim, also from USA and WeAreTukTuk from the UK, complemented by local designers like Pauline.Ning and Coupe Cousu.

If you're not familiar with such brands, there's plenty of time to get acquainted after the retail site launches on 30th October. Not to mention killing two birds with one stone where you can shop local and foreign brands at the same time, without toggling tabs and browers on Chrome or Firefox. I'm sure we've all got a shred of fashion snobbery within us that makes us make a beeline for foreign labels over local ones, sad but true. Locals are just less forgiving towards our own budding designers who are already having a hard time competing in the retail market, what with all the major high street brands popping up all over town in prime locations, ie. H&M. I guess people flock to online stores to avoid owning the same damn thing that every other woman has in Singapore.

Over at UNESTABLISH, the products have been handpicked by the owners at Ardent Apparel and come in limited quantities, so exclusivity is pretty much guaranteed. Click your way to their store and sign up to receive a very welcome $10 in shopping credits. Mind you, this is a very limited offer so do it fast and while you're at it, you can preview their collection. Also, refer friends to accumulate store credits for a chance at a $500 gift voucher! I've marked the 30th of this month in my calendar with a huge "VISIT UNESTABLISH.COM" and I'm going to pen it down even larger on Fal's calendar.  

♥,
Fir

Streetstyle inspiration

I'm currently being inspired by:

Mini skirts with trains

Cape dresses with boots

Oversized sweaters

Vintage tea dresses

♥,
Fal

Living on the Edge

'Edgy' has been thrown around carelessly and used so often to describe any look that is unsafe that no one really knows what edgy really means. It got me thinking and I decided to find out. According to the free online dictionaries (all hail and long live Google), 'edgy' at its root means anxious or irritable. In terms of Art or Fine Art, 'edgy' means excessively defined. The essence of 'edgy' however, lies in the way it excites because it is innovative and to a certain extent, intense. Hence, edgy is neither an unconventional look that is way out there, nor an (ironically) safe combination of tons of black eyeliner, leather, boots and distressed denim. The latter is the Harley/biker-chic that Singaporean girls have been so eager to adopt. Being edgy just means being innovative and showing some creativity in putting outfits together so you don't wind up like all the other cookie-cutter girls out there. You've not only portrayed a bit of yourself in those clothes on your back, you've also captured an essence of that edge.

Fashion, style and such advice are all highly subjective and in a sense, absolutely cruel to those who don't subscribe to conventional notions of the so-called fashion manifested in seasonal or annual trends that people are so keen to follow. Somehow this system works and has worked since time immemorial probably because as social beings, humans need to attain that innate sense of belonging to a community of some sort and if it requires that we follow those set customs and norms to be part of the same 'pack' so to speak, then so be it.

As is the case with all subjective and undefined subject matters on this planet, there is an escape clause or loophole. The escape clause that always works: this is what I consider edgy which may not be what you define as edgy. Sure there are some benchmarks that position 'edgy' somewhere around 'eclectic' but this definition is far from set in stone. Personally, as long as there is some element of creativity in an outfit that makes me go "hey omg, I didn't know you could wear it like that", then that's edgy.

We can't talk edgy without mentioning Alexa Chung. She has definitely nailed that Brit-eclectic-chic.



Then there are models Frida Gustavsson and Abbey Lee. I love their personal styles.



With celebrities like Lady Gaga, no doubt poised on the edge of glory and the brink of madness in her odd-as-hell outfit (or lack thereof) choices, pushing boundaries with way-out concepts of fashion (the meat dress was one disgusting piece of work), one could say that the playground has definitely opened up a lot more today. There is so much more space for creative genius as well as mistakes.





Moreover, with so many high street brands replicating runway looks and creating new trends on their own (Zara, H&M and so on), fast fashion is indeed a fantastic way for anyone to push their personal fashion boundaries. Affordable clothes definitely make experimenting a lot less taxing on our branded wallets, imagine spending more than $100 on one item every time we go shopping. There is no way that will help the fashion industry which is, today, just thriving on the whims and fancies of more and more women who are acheiving a level of disposable income that makes it alright for them to shop till they drop, embedded and embroiled as we are in a consumerist and materialistic culture that encourages capitalism and senseless expenditure with every swipe of a credit card.

Whoever coined shopping as 'retail therapy' certainly was brilliant. I am personally a sucker for retail therapy, as is almost every other person out there. In cities like Singapore, I think it's fair to say that most pastimes require spending some money one way or another, especially if you choose to head out. Spending your heard earned money on yourself becomes therapeutic because you can say "hey, I worked for this and I deserve to treat myself", which in turn fuels that capitalist cycle of making more and more money so you can spend more on yourself every single time. Overspend and you live on the edge of debt; keep saving and you'll live comfortably in retirement.

In any case, that's the way the world works. So? Deal with it (haha). I'm happy spending on myself when I can afford to and there's nothing better than fueling some of that creative energy into buying some edgy gems stocked among the shelves in the shops in town to play around with at home.


♥,
Fir

Versace for H&M Campaign

The Versace for H&M Campaign is finally out! With less than a month till the launch of the collection, its time to start saving up!

♥,
Fal