Styling a Chanel jacket & £10 designer denim cutoffs

As you probably gather by now, I don't do colors nor overly feminine clothes all too well. It's like getting a rapper to dress in a tuxedo and sing a ballad. Not that I walk around wearing heavy chains with tattoos  all over my body..... Over the years, my style gradually evolved, perhaps influenced by the French more nonchalant and perfection-is-boring attitude which suits me to a T. I still can't style my hair to save my life so the "tousled" (read: I can't be arsed brushing my hair) look is right up my alley. I'm drawn to slightly ripped clothes and half tucked shirts. I guess you could say, there's a continual a slant towards androgynous, contemporary and edgier clothes.

On the flip side, there's my love for Chanel jackets. Sophisticated and posh. Two words that can't be used to describe someone like me who's a whiz at spilling anything and everything onto my clothes. I somehow managed to get my hands on a aubergine Chanel jacket complete with glittery gold and silver pinstripes. Shudder..... At a first glance, I was befuddled. How do I even wear it without looking like I'm heading out to a posh luncheon?

However, the fit....oh my....the jacket fits my body like a dream. There's something to be said for handmade jackets, particularly Chanel's. It gave me shoulders (I have droopy narrow shoulders), added curves to my body when I have none (anyone dealing with fluctuating body weight like me??).  After a few tweaks, I decided to try the tweed jacket with ripped jeans, a slouchy Alexander Wang t-shirt and tone it down a notch by pairing it with simple ankle strap heels from Marni.

I had a look around all the denim cutoffs on offer at the High St stores. It was either too ripped, too short, too high waisted etc etc etc. I trawled eBay for my favorite 7FAM boyfriend jeans and............ Lo and behold.......£10! Bargain! I'm a menace with scissors and ended up with jagged edges but what the heck, perfection is boring. I bought these Josefina jeans a little big as I prefer the slouchy look.

I thought I'd pop these snapshots of Winchester in to give fashion a bit of a rest after the lengthy spiel. I'm dying to toss my winter clothes. Spring seems so far away when all we're having is intermittent sunshine and wind strong enough to blow me away. I hope everyone has awesome plans for the Easter break.

An Indulgent Wednesday with Hero

Outfit: Isabel Marant jacket (similar), Uniqlo sweater, Zara jeans, Aquazzura Christy and Hermes Birkin.


Other than the intermittent mobile data which I'm desperately trying to conserve till the next month, I've been largely internet-less for the past 3 weeks and counting. The bungling EE (supposedly Everything Everywhere but coined by an ex colleague as NN - Nothing Nowhere) managed to disconnect my phone line too. I've learned something new about myself. I will NEVER survive as a hippie - "in touch with mother earth and universe" and all that jazz because internet withdrawal is pretty painful for someone whose fingertips are glued to electronic gadgets most of her waking hours. I'm starting to think that instead of a rain dance, I may have to perform an internet dance just so that I may have connectivity by April........ #firstworldproblems

My history teacher in high school used to complain about my "chicken scratchings" (translated from Malay - cakar ayam). In other words....my AWFUL handwriting. If you know anything about the education system in Asia, you'd know that students spend gazillion hours memorizing and copying facts from textbooks. There's NO way any normal human can still write beautifully after scribbling non stop for a couple of hours.

I was invited by Laura who owns the lovely boutique in Stockbridge called Hero to attend a calligraphy workshop. It was the perfect opportunity to redeem myself. It was also such an indulgent way to spend a Wednesday. I was chauffeured to and from the event, spent an hour learning calligraphy which was very therapeutic, treated to a lovely mezze lunch and had the opportunity to interact with a few other like-minded women.

Rebecca from Betty Etiquette was a marvelous teacher. Infinitely patient and full of encouragement, she guided us ever so gently to try various strokes and how and when to apply pressure to the nib. I've certainly walked away with a new appreciation for calligraphy.

Every photographer knows to always pack an extra battery pack for the camera. Yes....well......  Mine ran out of juice after a few photos but thankfully, the smartphone came in really handy.  We were so engrossed in our chats and calligraphy that I forgot to introduce myself to a few others. Thank you, Laura for the fabulous workshop and lunch!

p.s. I interviewed the entrepreneurial and stunning Laura Turner of Hero a few weeks ago. Check out  Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview over at Swoon Mag.

Splurge vs Steal: S/S 15 Chloe Lace Up Wedges

Remember my previous post regarding these Chloe beauties? The ones that I can't take my eyes off and made me drool all over my keyboards? They're pretty, edgy and equipped with a VERY wearable heel. YES!!! 2 inches high and none of those ridiculously skinny stilts that will snap my ankles in two. The only problem is...... the price tag of £660 made me feel rather light headed.

Sure, these far more affordable alternatives from Zara aren't made of leather but heck, I'm not going to complain when they're only £39.99. The courier driver actually delivered them on Sunday. I love my Hermes courier guy. They make my short stumps legs.....look looooong. They're striking enough to look rather eye catching but not overly so, if you get my drift. Now all I have to do is wait for spring to finally arrive. 

11 Summer Essentials

1. Étoile Isabel Marant Gemma dress 

2. Uniqlo silk top

3. Mango denim shirt

4. Chloé lace up suede wedges

5. Comme des Garçons wallet

6. Étoile Isabel Marant Aaron striped top

7. Mango black denim shorts

8. Miu Miu sunglasses

9. Mango denim shorts

10. J.Crew panama hat

11. K Jacques St Tropez sandals

I'm officially over this winter even though it has been rather mild and sunny in comparison to previous years. I don't want to see my parka or heavy coats for another year. My legs are so pale that they glow in the dark.

I have trouble handing over wads of cash for denim cutoffs. They're essentially worn jeans or factory distressed; ripped, stretched and then snipped off. As I looked at the hordes of cutoffs available at online stores, it brought back memories of my early backpacking days when I stole my then skinny teenage brother's Levi's 501s and wore them till spring turned into summer. When I could no longer bear the heat, I borrowed a pair of scissors from the pension owner and made my own shorts. It didn't even cost me a cent.

When the weather's hot, I want my outfits to be airy, light and loose. Anything tight makes me feel like my innards are being squeezed. Since our summer days tend to be short and unpredictable, I rarely go crazy and shop up a storm. I've been mulling over my summer pieces and pretty much decided that anything I buy this year has to pull double duty. Well, other than the cut offs. What's on your summer shopping list? Do tell.

Comfort over fashion?

Outfit: Christys' fedora, Rick Owens Naska leather jacket, Uniqlo cotton/cashmere sweater, Icebreaker thermal vest, Zara jeans, Topshop boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy 35.


Lately, blogging has fallen wayward in lieu of family, work, traveling and life in general. I'm still very much alive on Instagram only because I don't have to be overly chatty and one picture says it all. It's a wonder that I still have something to write about after 4.5 years of blogging....... If anything, I've learned a lot from it. Made a ton of friends, have opportunities come my way that I normally wouldn't have, figured out to pose less awkwardly (banish the thought that this will ever turn into personal style blog. I love taking photos more than being in front of the camera).....

In fact, I was shocked that I can actually look half decent in front of the camera. Well, as long as I don't look at the mirror first thing I get up lest I scare myself to death. Actually, it wasn't too bad. Much like applying Photoshop  gaussian blur where everything looks airbrushed and fuzzy. That is........until I put on my glasses. The worst was wearing contacts. It was like.....WHOA! I really REALLY scared myself sh*tless then (I haven't worn contacts since).

I made several trips to London last week, the last being on Saturday where 18 bloggers came from all over and perched ourselves in a restaurant for hours on end chatting the day away. Just in case you're wondering why I was lugging such a fat looking LV Speedy.....it was my overnight bag. Thank goodness I've downsized my camera which now takes up less space than my t-shirt. It was freezing. Okay, nothing compared to the crazy snowfall in the U.S and Canada so I can't complain. I was so grateful for my fedora because it rained....and rained....and rained. An umbrella would've been ripped apart by the wind within minutes. The Rick Owens leather jacket was a godsend too. Waterproof, windproof and kept me warm. I'm glad I didn't go with the brushed leather version which would've been ruined in the rain.

I wish I could dedicate this blog as an Ode to All Things Fashion but sadly, it ain't going to happen. As you can tell, I got lazy and wore the same few outfits again and again since......erm........early December? Anyone struggling with their outfits lately?

**A huge thank you to Sue of Susie So So for putting up with me when I made her take photos of me.