Sneaker Mania. Yay or Nay?

Photo credit: Vanessa Jackman

Photo credit: Garance Dore

Photo credit: Elle UK

Photo credit: Vanessa Jackman

Remember Air Jordan rage in the 80s? Some of you might have been a wee baby then but the rest of us were caught up in the mania. Michael Jordan signed a contract with Nike and THE Air Jordan hi-top sneaker was born. They were cool. Every teenager or man wanted one. Some collected them. Sneakers or trainers or whatever you call these became the best thing next to sliced bread.

When I was 16 or 17, I begged my mother to buy me a pair of Reebok runners. I  was utterly convinced that I was going to be able to run like the wind in them. "I'm representing the school for the track events. I have a better chance of winning", I argued. At RM90 in those days, the Reebok sneakers didn't come cheap. Never mind I came in second, if you counted from the bottom up. All the cool girls in school wore them. I wore mine till they fell apart and promptly swore I'll never get into these strange sneakers/jeans combo again lest I looked like a tourist.

Most of us stoically swallow every blister and pain while we wear heels in the name of vanity just because they make our legs look longer, our feet more photogenic (an important fact if you're hoping to get papped at Fashion Week) and somehow our hips seem to sway from side to side on their own accord albeit with an added sexual appeal. Who knew the genius that is Isabel Marant would add a wedge to sneakers and combine comfort with coolitude? The similar optical illusion still exists because we now not only have legs that seem to stretch right up to our armpits, we can finally walk for hours without having to carry an extra pair of flats.

1. Nike Air Vortex  2. Isabel Marant Baya  3. Nike Air Max 90  4. Nike Wedge Sky Hi   5. Nike Air Base  6. Isabel Marant Wila  7. Isabel Marant Baltimore  8. Nike Blazer leopard print

The long waiting lists and sold out banners were enough to convince every shoe company to get in on the act. The craze is also perpetuated via the internet which of course, traveled like lightning speed across the world. I rejoiced the day I saw a few fashion editors and trendy fashion show attendees wore sneakers instead of their usual heels. I'm easily influenced especially when a trend works to my favor.

Sportswear companies like Nike and Puma refused to be outdone by fashion houses decided to re-vamp their running shoes with bright neon colors and marketing through the right channels (aka Asos, Liberty etc). For years, we run to our workplace in our sneakers and then swapping shoes at our desks. Now, it's cool to stick on these super trendy sneakers on all day (company rules permitting).

I'm in the "yes" camp which comes to no surprise after remonstrating enough about my lack of aptitude for wearing heels. I confess I love the attention my wedge trainers get (when it was brand spanking new aka clean) and that extra 2.5 inches is precious to a dwarf like me. It meant that I could at least talk to someone's face rather than their Adam's apple or armpit. In fact, I've worn mine so much that I've been thinking of getting a pair in black. I realize that wedge trainers do not necessarily appeal to the masses. Which camp do you belong?

Meeting Virtual Friends

Mews of Mayfair

Judging by the infinite number of bloggers showing off our best outfits in social events may give you the idea that the average blogger is a party animal. This couldn't be further from the truth. Let's debunk a few myths about bloggers. Most of us can't be categorized as full timers which means we subsist on meager income drawn from our beloved hobby. We earn enough to buy ourselves a few burgers from McD every now and then. Seriously. Well, with the exception of a handful of extraordinarily talented bloggers. Despite our professed love for fashion, we blog in our PJs, our most under-rated outfit.



Joanna of Poppy Style & Avril of School Gate Style

Natalie of Glam Rosie

Sue of Susie So So

Secondly, we're hermits and would in fact, survive rather well in solitary confinement. We crawl out of our caves from time to time to socialize in order to verbalize our thoughts instead of just thinking about them.

Thirdly, there are more and more mommy bloggers in the blogosphere these days though my blog isn't exactly classified as one, namely because I'm not particularly child friendly. I was once guilted into accompanying a group of lively 6 year olds on a school trip by Lil L's teacher. Judging by my pained expression and growls (mine, not the kids), suffice to say, I was never asked again.



Photo taken by Avril
Outfit: Helmut Lang coat (similar here and here), Zara boyfriend jeans (similar here), Christys' hat, ankle boots (similar here), Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere 35cm

I got papped! In fact, several of them had a field day taking photos of me in action (yeah, with the face all scrunched up). And trying on my Helmut Lang coat. Sigh. To be tall and lean and wearing a Helmut Lang coat (yes, I'm talking to you, Avril and Kat). In case you're wondering, it IS the voice of envy.





Sorry for the diversion.......what I was trying to say was I met up with a bunch of lovely mommy bloggers in London last weekend. Joanna flew in from Atlanta while Helen and Avril arrived by way of Ireland and the rest of us came in from all over England. Good food, good company, a fabulous way to spend the day.

3 Ways to Wear Boyfriend Jeans

 

Summer 

(if and when the warmth will ever descend on this godforsaken long winter)

Outfit: Zara jeans (or similar here or here), Repetto flats, Petit Bateau mariniere top (or similar here)

This is my spring/summer uniform. Don't get me wrong. I love fashion but I don't live and breathe it. Once I've worked out a daily uniform, I stick to it for the rest of the season. Yup, totally boring. Like I've said before, if I was a proper style blogger, I would've sacked myself a long time ago.

Autumn (Fall)/Winter

Outfit: Etoile Isabel Marant Kady leather jacket (similar here), Zara jeans (or similar here), Petit Bateau top (similar here), ankle boots, Christys' Harriet fedora and Louis Vuitton 35cm Speedy Bandouliere

Smart Casual

 Outfit: Rag & Bone tuxedo blazer (similar here), Uniqlo silk shirt, Zara jeans (or similar here), Halogen wedges, Hermes Kelly 28cm

There are a million ways to wear boyfriend jeans but by the time I've changed and raced outside for what seemed like the millionth time, it was too late to take another photo. For those of you who commented on the lack of selfie shots during London Fashion Week, you will now get to see 3 grinning shots of me.

It's been a year and I'm still in love with boyfriend jeans. Yes, it's winter and one should really be more denim appropriate but hey, these bulge friendly jeans do not accentuate muffin tops nor less than stellar thighs. I bought the "right" size (or otherwise known as the next size up) to accommodate gluttony. The only problem is they've stretched and will fall right off my hips if I don't put a belt on.

The plethora of boyfriend jeans available out there is just mind boggling. I don't enjoy shopping for jeans. I've found that the ones that flatter tend to be low to mid rise with slimmer legs and distressed enough without looking like they came out of the trash can. The hubs and daughter are still shaking their heads whenever I wear these out. They can't quite grasp the concept of "distressed".  Fashion IS personal. So there.


I'm getting rather bored of my own personal style so let's pick your brain instead for inspiration. How do you wear yours?

3 Chic & Practical Street Style Looks from Fashion Week

Photo credit: Harper's Bazaar

Photo credit: Harper's Bazaar

Photo credit: Tommy Ton

I had a chance to speak to a few ladies who work for magazines and stores. Part of their job is covering the Fashion Week. One thing led to another and we got talking about outfits. As in the inappropriate but extremely photogenic ones worn by attendees and Fashion Week groupies. I have seen those who looked like they were on the verge of hypothermia and others that you winced in sympathy as they walked past like stick man because their pencil thin heels were so high.

Just in case you're wondering, yes, I say this with a hint of envy. They may be freezing to death but boy, did they look so darn good.  I, on the other hand, was dressed sensibly *yaaaawwwwn*. I swore I saw a few street style photographers put down their cameras as I walked past.

Vanity sits on one shoulder and practicality sits on the other. That's me I'm talking about. So, what's trending now?
1)  wearing what looks like a sofa throw or blanket around your neck. Why wear a cashmere shawl when you can wear an entire blanket? Perhaps it's time I use my 6 year old's blankie.
2) having your jacket perched rather precariously on your shoulders to show off your outfit better. Never mind, you're turning blue from the cold or that you can't move your shoulders for fear of your jacket falling off. pssssst.....I've tried this. I felt soooooo trendy (and cold but it's trendy to be cold, right?)
3) bare legs in winter. Wolford or Falke tights are so yesterday, darlings.

Perhaps there's a way to look chic despite the bitter cold winter we're facing right now. Like the 3 chic but appropriately dressed ladies in the photos.

Geek Talk: Bluetooth Headphones

In the world of wireless technology, one would think I have dispensed of earphones a long time ago. I suck at untangling wires BUT I excel at swearing when I can't (and scared a few passengers on the train). After discovering the amazing bluetooth technology on my new Samsung Galaxy Note, there's just no going back to wires. Being the anal retentive person that I am, I have a few written requirements. The headphone has to be 1) small 2) portable 3) easy to use so that I don't have to lose more brain cells than necessary to figure out the contraption 4) affordable 5) comfortable as I have to wear glasses.

I'm seriously, I do mean seriously impressed with this new toy of mine. The SoundWear headphone costs only £19.97 and has well over 150 glowing reviews. It folds up into a tiny nifty thingamajig. The band rests comfortably on the back of your neck with all the controls on the right ear. When you get a call, it stops the music and you press the big round button to answer and talk (there's a microphone). I pop it on when I'm watching YouTube videos in bed so that I don't wake the hubs up. I can walk around and the music doesn't get cut off as long as you're within 10 metre radius of your phone. You can check out the assortment of bluetooth headphones here.

My First London Fashion Week

The lovely Elisa of Reward Style

Daniella of LellaVictoria and Wendy of Thankfifi who were the target of many street style photographers during LFW.  I decided I would be a street style photographer for the day. Unlike the "official" Vogue and Elle photographers, I allowed the two lovely ladies to smile instead of striking a pose or "look fierce".

The fashion industry is a completely foreign landscape to someone like me who came from a male dominated engineering background. A bit like chalk and cheese really, considering that the term "well dressed" to most of my former colleagues meant turning up with a shirt all tucked in or pants zipped up properly. And no, I'm not exaggerating either. It's difficult to put on a normal face when you're trying to hold a conversation and someone's fly isn't done. Which happens more often than not.

This has been my first foray into the London Fashion Week scene. It was a bit unfortunate that it coincided with the half term break which meant I couldn't attend more than half the events I was invited to. Bummer.

The London Fashion Week is perhaps the most pretentious, superficial and beauty obsessed world I've ever experienced to date. In contrast to my previous statement, I was equally blessed to meet with some of the most engaging and down to earth individuals who made it a memorable experience for me. Ladies, you know who you are so thank you for the wonderful time (Matches Fashion, Grazia, Reward Style, LN-CC, LellaVictoria, MirrorMe, Thankfifi).

Lucas Nascimento

Lucas Nascimento's show was intimate but still managed to make an impact with his designs. Bold, wearable pieces with clean fluid lines that will flatter women who do not necessarily have the perfect size 0 figure. The Central St Martins graduate obviously understands women and our insecurities well enough to create classic pieces but with a contemporary twist.





John Rocha with his chauffeur. I think I scared his wife when I couldn't stop ogling her Hermes Kelly.

Listening to Jonathan Saunders talk about his work.

The room was packed at House of Grazia with bloggers and journalists alike, all waiting with bated breath for Jonathan Saunders to arrive. A grounded, talented, witty and clearly exhausted man who deemed himself as the first generation of "normal" clothes designer. Jonathan was a Central St Martins graduate who'd attended tutorials with Roksandra Ilincic and counted Richard Nicoll, Christopher Kane and Louise Gray amongst his peers. Here are snippets of the interview.

Background: "came from Jehovah Witness background and went into furniture making because Jesus did so". Left because there wasn't any human interaction.
On social media: Previously, it used to be fashion insiders who dictated what went into press and the enormous influence they wielded but the social media along with blogging has "democratized" the whole process. Consumers are now closer to the designers more than ever.
On recession: It made him think and design more commercial and wearable clothes.

Well, it's back to planet Earth where I have a pile of dirty dishes waiting to be washed, the toilet bowl needs to be scrubbed and the mess that the 2 humans who live with me managed to generate while I was away. It was fun pretending to be a fashionista for a few days.............

Belated Valentine's Day Treats

Well, it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Aubaine. No, they didn't pay me to say that. I've been a regular for years now. It's one of the best places to people watch (designer bags galore along with some of the best dressed ladies to date), their pastries are to die for and the service has always been exceptional. Last week, I received a rather puzzling tweet asking me to pick up my Valentine order from Aubaine. It turned out that they were gifting their favorite UK bloggers with a Valentine's Day surprise. I'll be lying if I didn't say I was incredibly flattered and touched by the thoughtful gesture.

The macarons were THE best bribery tool to keep your kids (Lil L and her friends) in tow. Rule number 1 when it comes to parenting - When in doubt, bribe. One eye on the sweet treats and the other on their dinner. Let's just say that for once, I didn't really have to repeat myself a million times about not finishing their dinner. For me, the best bit was the dark chocolate box which is being rationed out to last the entire week.





The hubby knows that there's no use buying something that I don't really want even if it's expensive. He decided to surprise his cheapskate wife who has been eyeing the Shu Uemura lash curler for the last century but couldn't bear to part 20 quid for the beauty contraption. He's still mystified by the "torture tool" but hey, if the wife's happy, he gets extra brownie points (aka no nagging when there's a trail of clothes on the floor). Ahh....Shu Uemura lash curler, where have you been all my life? It's definitely designed for the Asian eye and fits over my eyelid perfectly. No pinching, no tears (yes, I nearly snipped my eyelids off) and finally, my sparse short lashes now look amazingly long. Well, if you're crazy about Shu Uemura and Karl Lagerfeld, you should check out the result of their collaboration.

House of Grazia & Matches Fashion

I, for one have never harbored any dreams to participate in London Fashion Week events so it came to a complete surprise when I was invited to the House of Grazia aka the elegant Matches Fashion townhouse over a 5 day period. It didn't even occur to me to register for the fashion shows either. However, I've heard whispers of the interesting outfits outside Somerset House so I may just turn up just to see the hoo-ha.

Grazia has set up camp at the Matches Fashion townhouse and will be reporting live there during the entire London Fashion Week. When I casually mentioned to a young friend of mine that Henry Holland was going to be "in da house", she screamed and hyperventilated. I thought she was going to pass out. In future, I'd love to be able to give the opportunity to a friend or reader to come along to one of these functions with me. Needless to say, I feel not only honored but also privileged to catch a glimpse of what London Fashion Week is all about.

Unfortunately, thanks to the train being re-routed all over South of England, we arrived 2.5 hours later and only caught the last 10 minutes of the talk given by Sandra of 5 Inch and Up as well as a couple of others (more about this here). I was not only one of the oldest bloggers there, I was THE only blogger who turned up to a fashion event with a young child in tow (lucky me, LFW coincides with half term break). I saw a few bloggers' jaws hit the ground when I turned up with Lil L but the lovely ladies from Matches Fashion and Grazia crew didn't even bat an eyelid.Thank you to Simone (Matches Fashion) and Becky (Grazia) for the highlight of my visit. Not to mention the scrumptious pastries, coffee, yummy gorgeous models eye candies waiters (shh....don't tell the hubs I said that).








I had to eschew the afternoon event as a reward for Lil L's exemplary behavior so off we went to have dim sum at Chinatown. You know what they say about most Chinese restaurants. The tackier and ruder the service, the better the food. The service was better than usual and the food was just so so. Guess you can't have both...... Sorry, Sue , I suck at being a style blogger which is why this is a lifestyle blog. I was too busy ogling the gorgeous waiters and chatting to the lovely ladies at the townhouse that it didn't occur to me that anyone would be interested in my outfit.






Lil L and I negotiated a deal. I could check out Selfridges' shoe gallery on the condition that she gets up to the London Eye. While she was beyond ecstatic and could hardly contain her glee (she has been nagging to go up the London Eye for 1.5 years now), I was exhausted and felt the beginnings of frostbite on my toes (yes, I was dressed most inappropriately thinking that sunshine = warm). "Mama, I told you to wear your boots". Smartass. 

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (cookiesncandies) and Twitter.

Pass It Forward: 3 Streetstyle Photographers

 Garance Dore

Vanessa Jackman 

Yvan Rodic of Face Hunter 

Street-style photography exploded into the scene, thanks to Scott Schuman aka The Sartorialist taking it to the next level. Bill Cunningham, the original street-style photographer has always insisted on being an independent agent so that his work isn't controlled by anyone. I thought it's fitting that I feature street-style blogs today as it's the first day of London Fashion Week over here.

Perhaps I'm not a young girl in my early 20s anymore or that my priorities have shifted beyond fashion after becoming a mom, I find it difficult to relate to endless photos of skinny models who have barely left their teens. I want to be inspired by real women who perhaps may not have a picture perfect face or body but they're comfortable in their skin, fine lines and all and dress to suit themselves. These are 3 of the street-style photographers that I personally love and follow. Garance Dore, Vanessa Jackman and Yvan Rodic, thank you for keeping it real!

Will you sacrifice comfort for beauty?

Flamboyant | Minimalist  (E.U here) | Sleek | Practical | Attitude (E.U here)  | Edgy | Extravagant | Classy

More than 30 years ago, I remembered wincing in sympathy when my granny showed me her feet and explained the process involved to achieve a pair of miniscule lotus feet (bound feet). Thankfully, her mother had common sense and decided to forgo the tradition mid way through. Hobbling on feet smaller than a 4 year old's or being carried around was the only way to go. More than 100 years later, we're still hobbling.

I got a chance to watch Garance Dore's Trending video and boy, was she right. Watching these ladies struggling to walk on icy paths in skinny heels was painful. I surfed through gazillions of blogs and looked in disbelief at the photos of bare legs and super high heels with thick snow in the background. I can just visualize the obituary...... here lies xxxxx, a wife, daughter, sister and a blogger. Cause of death: slipped on ice while wearing a pair of 4 inch heels. Seeing a pedestrian right outside my flat slipped and cracked the back of her skull really put things into perspective.



You're probably tired of hearing me regurgitating the same topic by now. Can you have practical and comfy heels without sacrificing beauty? To my surprise, designers are finally sitting up and paying attention to women who are sick and tired of dealing with blisters, painful feet or worse, broken ankles due to resolutely wearing mind defying skyscrapers in the name of fashion. The other option is to carry a pair of flats at all times or just take a cab everywhere. So in fact, we're spending more money in order to wear heels.

Previously, it was a strenuous exercise, a little like finding a needle in a haystack  just trying to find a pair of decent looking mid heels because you either have the choice of flats or 4-6 inches high heels. Maison Margiela and Alexander Wang are at the forefront of minimalist, chic and sensible heels. Even the Queen of Ultimate Heels are churning out sensible heels for the upcoming spring and summer collection. Bravo Rachel Zoe!

So what say you? Comfort before beauty or vice versa?

4 Cheapies I'm Loving Right Now

 

After feasting my eyes on the latest shoe collection which also came with mind boggling price tags attached, I've decided to have a reality check. Good things come in small sizes and cheap. That's my mantra for the month (so she says before losing her willpower). Seriously, how cute is this yoghurt jar? I could've saved a bit more by buying a bigger tub but......isn't it adorable? Besides, the earth mother/tree hugging/eco-friendly/organic food obsessed mom in me loved the idea of handmade, natural, no additives and ultra delicious yoghurt from Glenilen Farm with scrumptious raspberry compote. Just so you know, I'll upgrade to larger tubs when I've collected enough of these jars. Available at these stockists for 99p each.





I used to look in disgust when my granny used to serve me dinner on similar enamel plates albeit ones with oriental flowers painted on them. I mean.....euwwww...... so uncool when ceramic is so in. How things have changed. Granny was so smart. These are so cheap, unbreakable, lasts for decades, take up little space and light as a feather. I'm sorry, granny but I'm still not keen on floral ones. Mine are from Falcon, a British company. You can use enamelware in the oven, on the stove and they're perfect for camping too (God forbid if I should ever camp).





Right now, I'm feeling like I'm living in a perpetual frostland. I've succumbed to copious cups of coffee and soup while cranking up the heat to stay warm. I got pretty fed up with having to make endless cups of coffee because by the time I'd finished what I'd set out to do, my drink had gotten cold. I've bought many flasks in my lifetime but this one from Thermos is still the best and far more affordable than the super duper fancy schmancy ones I'd owned in the past. I was surprised when my coffee remained piping hot 6 hours later. I've got my eye on this stainless steel food flask with a foldable spoon (such a neat idea!).




I've been planning to get a light colored silk shirt for a couple of years now but I balk at paying more than £50. The ones at Zara didn't impress me as the silk looked more like a sheer, loosely woven gauze. I only wish they didn't charge that much for such inferior fabrics. I have to say a big thank you to my friend, Sue (of Susiesoso) who alerted me to this little beauty at Uniqlo. It looks and feels like an Equipment silk shirt but costs a mere £39.99. Silk is a great insulator so this is my perfect excuse to buy another as a back up.