I'm sorry for being MIA over the past week. The viral infection spread like wildfire through the town leaving most of the families I know (including mine) sick. Fingers crossed everyone will be well enough for the Christmas celebration. Thank you so much for your continual support. I'd never thought in a million years that there will be people, other than my family, would ever want to read my blog. I've made so many friends via the blog and even met some of you this year. Take care and have a wonderful Christmas!
If you're wondering why I appear headless here, that's because I had such a maniacal looking grin (imagine a werewolf baring its teeth. Yeah, not a good look) that I managed to give myself a fright when I was editing the photos. So off with the head. I was a little guilt ridden lately after realizing that there were a few so called classic items such as my near new pea coat, forgotten Hermes scarf and the Birkin (aka a decoration that's part of the furniture these days) were relegated to the bench, just like the reserve players at a game.
Take this pea coat, for example. It was a bargain from a Comptoir des Cotonniers sale years ago. I rarely wear it ever since I've been walking around in a Isabel Marant love haze. Such a shame really seeing that it's such a smart looking jacket that'll never ever look dated.
I've often wondered what pea coats had to do with peas? Based on a quick google research, there are two theories. First, it was called pilot coat because it was made of pilot fabric mostly used by the navy and military but over time, it was shortened to p-coat. Hence, pea coat. The other stated that the original coat was designed for sailors or the Navy. The word pijjekker came from either Dutch or West Frisian (a language spoken in a northern province of the Netherlands) which referred to a specific coarse twill fabric.
Military and navy outerwear such as utility, duffle, pea and trench coats as well as parkas and the camouflage print are all considered a staple in every woman's wardrobe (and men). Who knew that the soldiers and navy officers would have such a monumental impact on fashion even centuries later?
A reader mentioned about my elusive Birkin. So here it is. I took it to London once to get it "serviced" and the atelier couldn't believe its remarkable condition. Um... yeah. That's because it has been preserved inside the glass door cabinet for the past 5 years. I still haven't mastered the art of holding my bag other than slinging it across my body.
Has anyone taken advantage of the sales lately? They're happening earlier and earlier these days which is fantastic for consumers looking to buy last minute Christmas gifts. For those who're interested in Isabel Marant, the clothes are discounted between 30% to 50% here and here.
I was first introduced to crêpes on my second visit to Paris. My friend and I were wandering around the St Ouen flea market when I came across a queue by the tiny stall squeezed in between a rambling hodgepodge of junk (or treasure depending on how you see it). The crunchy paper thin pancake smothered in nutella was heaven on earth.
I'd never ever thought of making them thinking that it'd be far too complicated and required a foreign looking spatula. My friend, Tiphaine who's from Brittany where crêpes originated gave me a much needed demonstration. I had no idea that savory crêpes or otherwise known as galettes are made of buckwheat flour which has a different texture from the sweet version. It's incredibly easy to make provided you have a good non stick pan (Tiphaine recommended this pancake pan). It beats paying £3.50 for a small crêpe when you can make it for pennies.
You can spread nutella or sprinkle icing sugar and lemon or try a more fancy version with strawberries and cream.
Julia Child’s Master Crêpe Recipe (recipe from GratineeBlog) Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2/3 cup cold milk
2/3 cup cold water
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for brushing on pan
Directions:
1) Mix all ingredients until smooth in a blender or with a whisk. Refrigerate.
2) Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush with melted butter.
3) Pour in 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter into the center of the pan
and then tilt the pan in all directions to cover the bottom evenly. Cook
about 1 minute, or until browned on the bottom. Turn and cook briefly
on the other side.
4) Cool on a rack or plate as you finish making the rest. Serve as desired.
After a decadent crêpe lunch, we headed out to explore the Christmas market for the dozenth time only to see a queue that snaked around the Cathedral. At the slightest hint of sunshine, what appeared to be the entire Hampshire county, decided to descend upon the small town. There was a brass band on every corner including an unfortunate bagpipe player whose prowess was given a blow by blow critique by the hubby who'd never ever held one in his life.
I was tempted to get a couple of humorous plaques myself. Or even better still, have one made - Be careful, she bites. Before coffee. And on Mondays.
When I was 17, my parents shipped my younger sister and I to New Zealand in order to get a better education. Being the eldest in the family, I was given the responsibility to manage the house, dad's business and my sibling (and the following 2 who arrived in later years). I was not only young, I was utterly clueless. Needless to say, I made plenty of mistakes.
There were many international students who were in the same boat as I was. As you can imagine, no parents and infinite freedom. I was once invited to a party and a waitress (I call her my angel) stopped me at the door, shook her head and told me not to go in there. I listened to her advice and went home. It turned out that these were drug filled parties or perhaps orgies would've been a better word. I remember having to break up fights in the bathrooms between two groups of hormonal young men. Or when my then 15 year old brother who was outraged that he wasn't allowed a drink because he's of age (yeah, right). I bought him a drink and made him drink it all. The guy puked his guts out and never touched alcohol again till many years later when he knew how to deal with it (mom, if you're reading this, sorry!).
I was once in a conversation with a friend who described how she and
her boyfriend were utterly stoned and wasted at family dinner when she
was in her early 20s. She wanted her children to experience the same
freedom that she had, meaning that they are free to smoke pot and be
promiscuous. Well, call me a prude but I strongly disagree. I've seen devastating consequences of these actions. Every action is preceded by consequences so think carefully.
Now that I'm a mom, I'm more conscious about the kind of role models that Lil L is exposed to. Social media platforms are widely available at the touch of a fingertip. Lil L and her friends are so proficient on YouTube that it's actually scary. 99.9% of music videos are of overtly sexual and violent nature. And the messages that they're bombarded with. I believe in putting down a strong foundation, to teach about consequences of one's actions and a deeper faith. Otherwise, it's a little like building a house made of straw and expecting it to withstand a tornado.
These are 3 incredible popular YouTubers who have admirable clean cut reputations as well as a strong following. They're sensible, inspiring and fantastic role models especially for the younger generation. Just in case if you're wondering why they're all of Korean descent other than that they're all beyond talented....... well, I'm a little biased. My niece and nephew are half Koreans. I spent 10 years practicing Taekwondo and learning Korean (all forgotten) in my younger days ;P
Janice and Sonia are two Australian born Koreans twin sisters with masses of talent. The duo are a YouTube phenomenon, raking in millions of views each video. The two sisters uploaded their first ever video in 2008 and by 2009, their Officially Missing You video went viral. Sonia had only picked up a guitar for the very first time the year before! They're sweet and humble with a heart for people. In 2010, they traveled to L.A for their debut concert and haven't stopped performing since.
Arden is a 27 year old American Korean model, actor, singer and songwriter. She has well over 120 000 YouTube subscribers. Yup, those are pretty big numbers to say the least. She appeared in cosmetic brand Clinique campaigns throughout Asia two years ago. When she tried to break into the Korean market a few years ago, she was given a list of cosmetic surgeries she had to do AND was asked to lose more weight. She declined saying that she was proud of the body and face that God gave her and that character was important than the exterior.
David is a talented American Korean singer, songwriter and YouTube video producer living in Los Angeles. In 2004, Choi won the grand prize in David Bowie's Mashup contest and appeared in USA Weekend Magazine alongside Usher, after he received the grand prize for the magazine's John Lennon Songwriting Contest for teens (wikipedia). His videos have been viewed over 110 million times and was reported to be the 15th most subscribed singer on YouTube. He often collaborates with other YouTube bigwig like WongFu productions often playing a caricature of himself - a poker faced and humorous dude.
Blogging is still a rather strange phenomenon, even to someone like who has been yabbering away for a couple of years. I ping-ponged between fun and vacuous subjects which I enjoy and other times, when the mood strikes, something of a more serious nature. Lately, I've had a chance to reflect on ......... things that drive me bonkers. By chance, I meant I had time on my hands when I'm doing laundry while desperately trying to ponder upon the mysteries of life or something intelligent to that effect instead of wondering what to cook for dinner or if I'd watered my plants or whether my pores are getting bigger or ..... okay, so you get the picture.
1. Fickleness
I've got a couple of friends....bless their hearts.... lovely people but they change their minds every few minutes. If I calculated the number of hours I'd waited for them, I'd probably lost precious days, never to be re-gained again. Never rely on them to turn up on time, that is if they ever do because they'll probably get distracted by a pair of shoes at a shop or decided that they prefer to eat Chinese instead of Japanese. "We must catch up! I'll call you tonight!", they cry while grasping my hand to illustrate the urgency of their statement. A year later, we'll be having the same conversation.
2. Scrooge
Tightwad, miser, cheapskate or in New Zealand, we just call them tight-arse. Can't get more direct than that. They're so tight, their arses squeak when they walk past you. They penny pinch and exploit the goodwill of others and then wonder where their friends have gone. I remember coming across this verse in the bible and realized there's a lot of wisdom in those words.
"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in
full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over,
and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount
you get back." Luke 6:38
3. Manners
Ever opened the door for someone and all you get is a cursory glance and a sniff as if you're no better than a gnat? I remember attending hubby's best friend's wedding and a tai-tai (rich women who lunch in Asia) strutted into the elevator and commanded me to press the button for the second floor. If this was how she treated another wedding guest, I'd hate to think how she treated her staff.
I've noticed the general decline of manners and common courtesy in children these days. I can't enforce the rule on others but I can work on my own child to ensure that she's thoughtful, to remember to be polite and mind her manners. I've seen grumpy individuals who literally beamed from ear to wear when a person, particularly a young child remembered to thank them for letting them through first. If the words thank you and I'm sorry are used more often, they'd be less violence and war.
4. Me, myself and I
Let's face it, blogs are generally narcissistic by nature. That's the honest truth. It's ALL about MY outfits, MY thoughts, MY life. Yaaaaaawn. I had a revelation years ago when a number of people sought me out to thank me for what I'd done for them. I did very little other than listening to them and taking an interest in them. It made me realize that it wasn't what I'd said but how I made them feel that made the difference. Just in case you're thinking that I'm an expert on this topic, don't. I still struggle every single day to remind myself to take the time to listen to others.
What are your pet peeves? What drives YOU bonkers?
The older I get, the more I'm drawn to contemporary, edgy and interesting pieces. Just because I've got one foot in the looming 4-0 doesn't mean that I have a preference for matronly fuddy duddy clothes. Quite the contrary. It's not even a conscious decision when I'm shopping for clothes. It's a case of finally understanding what works for me, my lifestyle and body shape and then carefully editing the plethora of clothes out in the marketplace to a sizable number before making a purchase.
I took one look at this Helmut by Helmut Lang biker jacket and fell head over heels. It was instant love. What can I say? It looked like an awesome deconstructed biker jacket that only the geniuses like Helmut Lang or Rick Owens could dream up. It's made of sweatshirt jersey material with fleece lining on the sleeves and extra padding in the interior. It was snug but I felt like I'm swathed in cotton balls. It was warm enough to be worn as a jacket but fits easily under a coat on colder (below 0˚C temperature) days.
While I was still walking around in a love filled haze (my first ever Helmut Lang piece), Christy came to visit and immediately logged on to the computer to get one for herself, albeit a size smaller. Ahhh..... to be young, skinny, tall and be able to eat like a horse AND not gain a single ounce. I twisted her arm till she agreed to be my dress up doll for the day.
Outfit: Etoile Isabel Marant Kady leather jacket (similar here or here), Asos jumper, The Kooples sweatpants (similar here or here), ankle boots (similar here) and Barbour canvas shopping tote.
Vogue's Sarah Harris coined the term haute casual to describe super-luxe anti-fuss separates. This is taking normal wearable everyday pieces to the next level where more attention is paid to the construction and fabrics. I couldn't be happier now that the very idea of sweatpants are actually considered chic and not relegated to the ranks of PJs. Gone are the days of slouchy and baggy sweatpants. These days, they resemble skinny jeans along with pockets and zips albeit ones that come with elastic bands (faaaabulous if you're gorging or you're having a fat day) and super soft fabric. I know....I know..... I'm darn good at justifying the reasons why I wear sweatpants out in the public.
The weekends leading up to Christmas are always frantically busy with pop up stores, fairs and Christmas markets all happening simultaneously. We headed over to check out my friend, Tiphaine's stall at the craft fair. She's made these adorable bracelets from Liberty fabrics.
The vintage Baloo brought back memories of watching Disney's Jungle Book cartoon. The rocking horse is a throwback to the days where it was a must have toy in the nursery. The slightly shabby coat and the worn wooden base reminded me of the conversation between the wise Skin Horse and the Rabbit from one of the most beloved storybook, The Velveteen Rabbit.
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become.
It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who
break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved
off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very
shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real
you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
(excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit)
We did a bit of window shopping. I love the old apothecary type bottles, so rarely found these days. The shelves held some of my favorite scented candles and skin care range.
It was a magical feeling walking past the 1000 year old church which was once part of the castle and the canopy of lights as the sun set. Lil L pointed out the nests on the trees as we watched a plane flew past with a trail of smoke behind it. How was your weekend?
I often entertain the thought of living in a baroque style apartment in one of those really hip arrondissement in Paris. There's just one problem. My ability to speak French. I'm rather proud of my attempts but I've seen many Parisians who had the misfortune to converse with me winced in pain...... Le sigh.
Ella Catliff of La Petite Anglaise
Ella is English but interned at Baron Baronne in Paris in 2010. She's only 21 and already has an impressive resume which listed her work with Diane Von Furstenberg, Erdem and Velour magazine. She's been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Evening Standard, New York amongst many other fashion bigwigs. Check out her interview with Paula Reed, the former editor in chief of Grazia, now the Fashion Director of Harvey Nichols, a must read for those who wants to get into the fashion industry.
Camille is a 31 year old Parisian with a weakness for French hip brands such as Isabel Marant, Maje, Sandro and Zadig et Voltaire. She has the effortless casual, luxe-boho style which I love. Never too perfect but unbelievably cool that you just want to emulate her outfits.
Stephanie and Allison are the duo behind the hysterical La Mom, or perhaps I should call the blog le Moms. There's never a dull moment with these two ladies who have been blogging about their adventures living in Paris for years now. Their acerbic witty posts will crack you up. That's a promise.
Etoile Isabel Marant Ariana jacket (for those in Europe, here)
I had to pop up to London to attend a party. And who was at the entrance? None other than Steph from Faiiint and her lovely boyfriend. We squealed and hugged and chatted all night, or rather shouted at each other just so that we could be heard over the loud music. I also managed to check out a few pieces from the Spring/Summer 2013 Etoile Isabel Marant collection at Matches Fashion. J'aime the wonderful lighting and magical mirrors at the store. They make me look skinnier than I actually am.
The Ariana jacket has a more fitted style. It was slightly tight under my sweater dress and vest (not seen) but would look far better with a plain tee. The flecked violet yarn with raspberry cotton tweed fabric is rather flattering against my pale skin tone. The material is wonderfully soft to touch and the design is reminiscent of the Chanel cardigan but at a fraction of the price.
The Maverick sweater was a disappointment. I had no idea it was that cropped. The size 34 looked like a child's sweater and I had trouble getting it over my small head. Was she designing for a midget or a child? I tried on my usual size (38) and it wasn't any better.
The flirty and ruffled Sandrine
skirt is exquisite. I'm generally not a floral nor print type of girl
but I can easily see how the cerulean colored skirt can work with many
different colors. It's true to size. I normally wear a size 38 or UK 8 and it's a nice and comfortable fit. Although, it's namely a spring or summer piece, it'll work with a plain pullover during winter. This is the first time I've tried on the long sleeved jersey t-shirt by Helmut, his more affordable range. The texture is remarkably soft and the tee drapes and hangs in all the right places. I've always had trouble finding good slouchy tee that's long enough to cover my hip. If you're into Helmut Lang, check out this beautiful jersey biker jacket which is priced at a reasonable £150. I managed to nab one in my size before it sold out.
p.s. Have you noticed my giant phone? It was originally an iPhone but after multiple steroid injections, it grew a few muscles and became a Samsung.
I truly struggle with winter outfits. Not to sound vain or overly obsessed with clothes but what woman would like to look like she's related to the Michelin man? I admire those who can come up with a completely different outfit every single day. The thing is I lack the imagination and motivation to do the same. And then there's the constant battle between keeping warm and looking good. Perhaps, there's a way to do both?
The dimpled and baby faced Miranda Kerr has a knack for creating stunning outfits each time she steps out of her front door. Okay, let's not hide that she's a size 0 Amazonian with legs that stretch right up to her armpits. At a closer look, you'll notice the same pieces being rotated and worn in various ways. Her uniform tend to consist of over-sized tops and coats paired with skinny pants to avoid looking overly bulky. She's certainly given a few ideas on my own outfits.
Outfit: Mini Boden duffle coat, Mini Boden hat & mittens set, cotton scarf from Turkey and Hunter Wellies (or here)
Ever since the Christmas market opened last week, the streets are packed every single day with shoppers. Navigating our way to anywhere required the skill of a Grand Prix driver. However, you could sense the excitement in the air with the elaborate Christmas lights, the humongous pine tree right in the center of the High St and the bustling market.
The atmosphere is miles away from what I'm used to back home. I joked with a friend that in New Zealand, we're so laidback about the Christmas season that the only decoration that we see is the huge gargoyle like statue of Santa Claus above a massive bookstore on Queen St, Auckland. He, on the other hand, being German confided that Christmas is always an overkill back in his homeland. Well, I'd much rather have his version, to be perfectly honest.
Whew, it was a sigh of relief when Lil L nodded in approval and happily wore her new duffle coat. Every year, I take on the dreaded task of looking for a thick, comfortable and hopefully, flattering coat for her. I'm just incredulous over the astronomical prices for children's coats these days. £100?! Seriously? I can't imagine paying that much for something they'll outgrow within a year or two. I'm so pleased that it's padded along with a soft cotton lining. The hood's the deal breaker as few kids I know would lug around an umbrella when it rains.
We headed out to Sandrine's or otherwise deemed as cook and baker extraordinaire amongst our friends for a mug of mulled wine and nibbles to celebrate the first Advent Sunday. It was a blast catching up with friends since we all lead such busy lives. I'm thankful for the wonderful friends that we've made. It's our little home away from home where the tight network of friends help each other out. It's a pocket of England where over the past year has seen an influx of expats from Japan, Spain, Australia, U.S, Germany, Italy, Vietnam, China and France. It's wonderful to hear the different accents and languages spoken at the party. So, how did you celebrate Advent?
