Ron Herman is finally online!!
Time for some serious shopping ladies!!!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Friday, August 19, 2005
The mermaid's treasure trove
I am in love with these whimisical creations found on Space Mermaid.
Space Mermaid is a jewellery website set up by LA designer Stephanie Carbone.
Each necklace is inidividually hand-made once an order is placed - customers also have the option of customising their pieces.
Throughout the website, every piece of jewellery is just so cute!
Her bird rings are dramatic pieces, though I think they are best reserved for the night or a special occassion:
I love, love, love her necklace and earrings creations, seems like her designs are inspired by the ocean, by nature and all things magick!
Some of my favourite pieces on her website:
There are many many more beautiful pieces on her website!!
She also does international shipping as well, but luckily I am in California right now so I have ordered some of her stuff and it will be delivered to me soon!
I just can't wait!!
P.S. For all my wonderful blog readers, use the coupon code "tree" for her fall preview pieces and you will save 15% upon checkout! If you love wood accessories, this is definitely something to check out!
Pic credits : All images are taken from Space Mermaid.com
Space Mermaid is a jewellery website set up by LA designer Stephanie Carbone.
Each necklace is inidividually hand-made once an order is placed - customers also have the option of customising their pieces.
Throughout the website, every piece of jewellery is just so cute!
Her bird rings are dramatic pieces, though I think they are best reserved for the night or a special occassion:
I love, love, love her necklace and earrings creations, seems like her designs are inspired by the ocean, by nature and all things magick!
Some of my favourite pieces on her website:
There are many many more beautiful pieces on her website!!
She also does international shipping as well, but luckily I am in California right now so I have ordered some of her stuff and it will be delivered to me soon!
I just can't wait!!
P.S. For all my wonderful blog readers, use the coupon code "tree" for her fall preview pieces and you will save 15% upon checkout! If you love wood accessories, this is definitely something to check out!
Pic credits : All images are taken from Space Mermaid.com
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Happy Birthday Singapore
August 9th will mark the 40th year of independence for my home country Singapore.
Besides being a landmark anniversary of sorts, this National Day will also see me away from home in California, where I have been staying for the last month on duty travel. This is not my first time away from home on National Day, but it is especially whimsicial because I am on a cross-roads of sorts in my life. My job requires me to be stationed physically in California and it is highly likely that I may move over as early as January next year.
I am equal parts excited and extra parts torn over my situation. There are so many things to be excited about - a promotion, a new enviroment, not the mention that US is definitely a great place for shopping, both offline and online!! It will definitely be good exposure and I feel that I have grown so much since graduation from college. Travelling to the US constantly has made me more indepedent, mature and I have honed my fashion sense a lot more by all the constant trips to LA! On a more personal level, my boyfriend will also need to move to California for work, so this is really a beneficial, not to mention timely, situation for the both of us.
However this state of affairs also presents a dilemma for me as I will be leaving my family behind, not to mention a way of life that I have been used to for twenty-plus years. However, some things will always be bittersweet and who said change was ever easy? But I also believe that it is also through change that we will better ourselves and I am really to take on the challenges of starting another phase of life in a new place.
When Singapore celebrated its 35th anniversary 5 years ago, I was still a naive undergraduate. Who would have thought that 5 years later, I will be making plans to move overseas? This is definitely an exciting plan for me and one in which I am curious as to how this journey will turn out.
Happy 40th birthday, Singapore. Leaving my home does not mean I will forget, it means that I will cherish you more.
Besides being a landmark anniversary of sorts, this National Day will also see me away from home in California, where I have been staying for the last month on duty travel. This is not my first time away from home on National Day, but it is especially whimsicial because I am on a cross-roads of sorts in my life. My job requires me to be stationed physically in California and it is highly likely that I may move over as early as January next year.
I am equal parts excited and extra parts torn over my situation. There are so many things to be excited about - a promotion, a new enviroment, not the mention that US is definitely a great place for shopping, both offline and online!! It will definitely be good exposure and I feel that I have grown so much since graduation from college. Travelling to the US constantly has made me more indepedent, mature and I have honed my fashion sense a lot more by all the constant trips to LA! On a more personal level, my boyfriend will also need to move to California for work, so this is really a beneficial, not to mention timely, situation for the both of us.
However this state of affairs also presents a dilemma for me as I will be leaving my family behind, not to mention a way of life that I have been used to for twenty-plus years. However, some things will always be bittersweet and who said change was ever easy? But I also believe that it is also through change that we will better ourselves and I am really to take on the challenges of starting another phase of life in a new place.
When Singapore celebrated its 35th anniversary 5 years ago, I was still a naive undergraduate. Who would have thought that 5 years later, I will be making plans to move overseas? This is definitely an exciting plan for me and one in which I am curious as to how this journey will turn out.
Happy 40th birthday, Singapore. Leaving my home does not mean I will forget, it means that I will cherish you more.
A view of the Singapore business district by night
These shorts are made for wearing
I am absolutely in love with my Johnson shorts.
For those of you not in the know, these shorts are designed by LA designer, Kristen Johnson. They come in three different cuts - the bermuda shorts, the trouser shorts and the most popular (which is also the one that I have) the short-shorts.
From Johnson's website, these shorts are available in versatile tweeds, glammed-up satin or funked-up print fabrics.
I got myself a pair in houndstooth wool with vintage-looking buttons.
I wear a size 27 in jeans most of the time and size 4 fits me perfectly fine. It might be tempting to size up to compensate for what seems like a skimpy piece of clothing, but these shorts really run true to size. The shorts skim your hips rather than cling and does not accentuate any trouble spots of the body (and we all know that most of the time, a woman's trouble spots are her hips and thighs ;)) I really love the fantastic slimming and square cut of my shorts plus it makes my legs look long and toned! Magic!!
These shorts really stand on their own merit, but I guess the free publicity given by being seen on these rail-thin starlets does not hurt this line a single bit. Read this Daily Candy article for more information. There's also another great review in Stylediary on these awesome shorts.
I can see myself wearing these shorts all summer long with flats, sandals and flip-flops. They are even versatile even to be worn into fall with a pair of black leggings and heels, much like Lindsay:
So far, these shorts are available online at shopintution.com. However I strongly urge interested readers to buy from other sites - there have been several complaints about shopintuition's service in the past! Satine also carries these online, thought the spring/summer collection is sold out on their site. I got my pair from the auction site extralaces.com. You can also email the designer via the johnson website for more information on stockists.
For those who love living in shorts, this is definitely one brand to keep your eyes on! Watch out for the fall collection as the designer introduces more designs in velvet!
For those of you not in the know, these shorts are designed by LA designer, Kristen Johnson. They come in three different cuts - the bermuda shorts, the trouser shorts and the most popular (which is also the one that I have) the short-shorts.
From left: Flat-front trouser shorts; bermuda shorts and the short-shorts (pic from Johnson's website)
These shorts have become very popular since their debut this Spring in LA's boutiques. Part of this could be due to them being on heavy rotation among LA's most-watched starlets like Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan and shopping queen Mrs Lachey - Jessica Simpson.From left: Mischa Barton (pic from celebweb.org); Nicole Richie (pic from celebweb.org); Lindsay Lohan (pic from clasos.com); in their short-shorts.
I got myself a pair in houndstooth wool with vintage-looking buttons.
My pair of Johnson shorts!! Pic credit : extralaces.com
I wear a size 27 in jeans most of the time and size 4 fits me perfectly fine. It might be tempting to size up to compensate for what seems like a skimpy piece of clothing, but these shorts really run true to size. The shorts skim your hips rather than cling and does not accentuate any trouble spots of the body (and we all know that most of the time, a woman's trouble spots are her hips and thighs ;)) I really love the fantastic slimming and square cut of my shorts plus it makes my legs look long and toned! Magic!!
These shorts really stand on their own merit, but I guess the free publicity given by being seen on these rail-thin starlets does not hurt this line a single bit. Read this Daily Candy article for more information. There's also another great review in Stylediary on these awesome shorts.
I can see myself wearing these shorts all summer long with flats, sandals and flip-flops. They are even versatile even to be worn into fall with a pair of black leggings and heels, much like Lindsay:
Pic from celebweb.org
So far, these shorts are available online at shopintution.com. However I strongly urge interested readers to buy from other sites - there have been several complaints about shopintuition's service in the past! Satine also carries these online, thought the spring/summer collection is sold out on their site. I got my pair from the auction site extralaces.com. You can also email the designer via the johnson website for more information on stockists.
For those who love living in shorts, this is definitely one brand to keep your eyes on! Watch out for the fall collection as the designer introduces more designs in velvet!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Lost in translation - working your summer pieces into Fall
Tis' a glorious time to start shopping again.
Fall or at least pre-fall collections are starting to debut in shops all over and it's hard not to get into a tizzy with the promise of new clothes, new styles and new trends to drool over.
Dear reader, if you have accumulated a sizeable stash over summer (like me!), fret not. As I have mentioned in my earlier posts and which I shall reiterate, fashion cycles are getting shorter. Stash the trendy items that you really love in your wardrobe for now and pray that they will be trendy again.
Remember the military trend of 2003? Well it's back again this time for F/W 2005. Granted, the army green may have been traded in for navy wool and shiny brass buttons, a la The Admiral, but the epaulettes and military embellishments still abound.
First seen in its Riviera chic incarnation in resort collections this year, it was later given a seaworthy spin by Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga's S/S 05 collection.
These pieces have since then been given a high Parisian polish for F/W, with more intricate details being worked in, as well as the emergence of a stronger silhouette, a drastic departure from the relaxed form for spring.
The most iconic piece of this trend is probably epitomized in this Jean Paul Gaultier jacket for his F/W 05 collection:
This is an extremely workable trend for night - nothing adds panache to an ensemble like a well-cut jacket. Unfortunately, this may be a hard style to carry off during the day. For a more casual touch, I can see navy pants and stripy tops from the summer being worn past fall. Remember however that this is sailor chic, so while navy wool and brass buttons will work, camouflage stripes will just look dated. It is even possible to pair the voluminous skirts seen in summer with a structured nautical jacket for Fall.
As for the floaty chiffon dresses seen all to often in summer, these can be easily translated into a stunning fall ensemble. The sheerness of the fabric can in fact balance out the heavier textures and fabric used for fall. Dresses like these are the most versatile; it can layered with scarves, worn with a trench/blazer or with boots or heels.
I am especially fond of this look which was seen on the Chloe' runway for S/S2005. It is a prime example of how with a little flair and creativity, we are still about to wear our summer pieces well into fall.
White dresses were very popular this season due to the boho trend and nothing provides a better canvas for the jeweled tones of Fall than white. If you are a great fan of vintage, especially of pieces from the Victorian/Edwardian era, rejoice for this is one trend that is rapidly heating up for Fall. With the appropriate accessories, I believe that certain dresses can even be transformed into Victoriana ensembles, which is another popular Fall style to watch.
Some of my favourite pieces on the runway are :
The silhouette of the above pieces look decidly Edwardian
Heavier Victorian influences here:
While I personally hate to see this being done to death for Fall much like the bohemian trend, there is no denying the strong presence of the romantic novel blouse/dress seen on several runway collections for Fall. As with all trends, never wear this head-to-toe, Victoriana looks best when there is one iconic piece in the entire outfit. The best example that I can think of is to wear the romantic blouse with cigarette pants or skinny jeans. This image has been seared into my mind ever since I came across this picture below in an editorial of Vogue July 05.
High street stores like Zara have already debuted an interesting Victoriana collection for Fall and I have already picked up several pieces (to add on to my vintage collection) with interesting trimmings like lace, beads and pompoms.
A popular colour for Fall, which might have come about due to the strong nautical vibe this coming F/W, is a deep rich royal blue. This hue is seen in several pieces from the fashion houses – it is one of colours seen in the palette of offerings from Balenciages for their famed classique bags, produced in several colours of the rainbow. Gucci has brought back their horsebit hobo in a gorgeous blue for their new Guccissima leather collection, while the paddington from Chloe’ has been reinvented in a jewel blue tone as well. Lanvin has debuted its new line up of flats for Fall and there is a particular loafer style done in rich blue velvet that is so pretty – I have become the proud owner of a pair!
It is easier to wear a piece from summer to fall, rather than vice-versa, simply because it gets too hot. I realize that for fall, I tend to concentrate more on accessories like bags and shoes and spend less on clothes. The sumptuousness of Fall fabrics makes it a little harder to wear them past winter, while layering can really stretch the versatility of summer pieces. Similarly, I believe that the line between summer clothing and fall clothing is rapidly blurring. I think it is great fun and a test of style to transition pieces from one season to another. Some things are obvious – no ruffled minis in Fall (I never understood why these were still around anyway, particularly on tweens in LA – wasn’t this suppose to die out last year?), but other pieces can be extremely versatile and worn season after season, like jeans or cropped jackets.
As always, be aware of yourself, build up your own style and recognise what works for you and what doesn't. With better self-assurance, you will be able to sieve through the new Fall trends and re-interpret them equally well with existing pieces in your wardrobe!
Fall or at least pre-fall collections are starting to debut in shops all over and it's hard not to get into a tizzy with the promise of new clothes, new styles and new trends to drool over.
Dear reader, if you have accumulated a sizeable stash over summer (like me!), fret not. As I have mentioned in my earlier posts and which I shall reiterate, fashion cycles are getting shorter. Stash the trendy items that you really love in your wardrobe for now and pray that they will be trendy again.
Remember the military trend of 2003? Well it's back again this time for F/W 2005. Granted, the army green may have been traded in for navy wool and shiny brass buttons, a la The Admiral, but the epaulettes and military embellishments still abound.
First seen in its Riviera chic incarnation in resort collections this year, it was later given a seaworthy spin by Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga's S/S 05 collection.
Balenciaga S/S 2005 - from Balenciaga.com
These pieces have since then been given a high Parisian polish for F/W, with more intricate details being worked in, as well as the emergence of a stronger silhouette, a drastic departure from the relaxed form for spring.
Balenciaga F/W 2005 - from Balenciaga.com
The most iconic piece of this trend is probably epitomized in this Jean Paul Gaultier jacket for his F/W 05 collection:
Jean Paul Gaultier nautical jacket, F/W 2005 - style.com
As for the floaty chiffon dresses seen all to often in summer, these can be easily translated into a stunning fall ensemble. The sheerness of the fabric can in fact balance out the heavier textures and fabric used for fall. Dresses like these are the most versatile; it can layered with scarves, worn with a trench/blazer or with boots or heels.
Chloe S/S 2005 - style.com
I am especially fond of this look which was seen on the Chloe' runway for S/S2005. It is a prime example of how with a little flair and creativity, we are still about to wear our summer pieces well into fall.
White dresses were very popular this season due to the boho trend and nothing provides a better canvas for the jeweled tones of Fall than white. If you are a great fan of vintage, especially of pieces from the Victorian/Edwardian era, rejoice for this is one trend that is rapidly heating up for Fall. With the appropriate accessories, I believe that certain dresses can even be transformed into Victoriana ensembles, which is another popular Fall style to watch.
Some of my favourite pieces on the runway are :
Chloe F/W 05 ;pictures from style.com
The silhouette of the above pieces look decidly Edwardian
Heavier Victorian influences here:
Chloe F/W 05 ;pictures from style.com
Gucci F/W 05 - reproduced from Vogue USA July 2005.
High street stores like Zara have already debuted an interesting Victoriana collection for Fall and I have already picked up several pieces (to add on to my vintage collection) with interesting trimmings like lace, beads and pompoms.
A popular colour for Fall, which might have come about due to the strong nautical vibe this coming F/W, is a deep rich royal blue. This hue is seen in several pieces from the fashion houses – it is one of colours seen in the palette of offerings from Balenciages for their famed classique bags, produced in several colours of the rainbow. Gucci has brought back their horsebit hobo in a gorgeous blue for their new Guccissima leather collection, while the paddington from Chloe’ has been reinvented in a jewel blue tone as well. Lanvin has debuted its new line up of flats for Fall and there is a particular loafer style done in rich blue velvet that is so pretty – I have become the proud owner of a pair!
Pretty in blue, those bags get a new coat of paint - from left: Chloe' Paddington (chloe.com); Gucci Guccissima horsebit hobo (nm.com)
As always, be aware of yourself, build up your own style and recognise what works for you and what doesn't. With better self-assurance, you will be able to sieve through the new Fall trends and re-interpret them equally well with existing pieces in your wardrobe!
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