Androgynous Style

Outfit: Miu Miu sunglasses, Alexander Wang t-shirt (hidden), Nike quilted rally hoodie (size down as it runs big. I'm wearing XS), Rick Owens leather jacket, The Kooples sweatpants (mine's medium) and The Kooples wedge sneakers.


"Are you a boy or a girl? I can't tell the difference."  Guys back in my university days used to taunt me. That's usually followed by "you should learn from the other girls." Pffffft. Whatever.

The standards and beauty ideals for guys and gals that Asians adhere to in Asia seem to be far more glaringly obvious than in the western world. Girls are meant to look pretty, girly, sweet, feminine, slightly sexy but not overly so but most definitely, innocent. Bah! None of those attributes apply to me. If anything, whenever I chanced upon a Chinese or Korean contemporary drama, my eyes are naturally drawn to menswear. The sharp tailoring. How they style sportswear. Their monochrome outfits.

A few close friends insisted I must watch "My Love from the Star", a Korean drama that took the world by storm. The lipstick worn by the heroine was even sold out in Winchester. Old historic city of Winchester of all places!! While my friends went mad for the heroine's clothes and accessories, I loved the male character's outfits. I found his sense of style (come to think of it,  probably his stylist's) far more appealing because it's more avant-garde and there are plenty of cool and practical sneakers as well as weather appropriate clothes.

Androgyny style can be sexy, edgy, comfortable and practical depending on how one interprets it.

I've noticed that whenever my blog's mentioned on certain forums, there's usually a comment about the decrease of fashion posts. It's also interesting to see that my Instagram account tends to get this introduction - "a blogger who normally writes about fashion but only ever posts travel photos here." I still enjoy fashion but I'm shockingly bad at following trends. I wear what I like. I take a million years to make up my mind when I'm shopping because I'm bloody picky. I prefer clothes from a few seasons ago which means I sometimes trawl secondhand places to see if they turn up. I often get sidetracked by food and travel. I'll try to add a few more fashion posts here and there but be prepared to see the same old clothes appearing again and again.

p.s. thank you to all those who helped diagnose my condition a few months ago. Yes! There's a name for it finally (IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome). What a difference it has made just knowing which food types to avoid. Thank you!

Another take on Paris

Outfit: Rick Owens leather jacket (or here if you're in the E.U. I wear size IT 42), The Kooples track pants, Chanel WOC, Louis Vuitton 35cm Speedy and Nike Flyknit sneakers (gifted)

If you're bored of looking at photos of Paris, I'm afraid here are a few more........ I felt like a proper tourist wielding a hefty DSLR and a smartphone. What's impressive these days is I'm seeing more and more people carrying around a telescoping selfie arm. It's a selfie revolution and a trend that's here to stay. We had a giggle at seeing one at work and marveled at how unself conscious some individuals were. Good for them. If I were a time traveler from the early 20th century, I doubt I'd understand modern English where words like selfie, hashtag food, Instagram, Facebook and so forth are so commonly used these days.

Over the years of making the journey back and forth between Paris and London, I've noticed that the much publicized mythical Parisian chic is only visible in specific arrondissements, notably the more expensive areas. I love the carefree and diverse fashion landscape in London as much as the more restrained but equally stylish personal style in Paris. My favorite activity in Paris? Gawking at chic ladies in St Germain while sipping a cup of coffee.

What are your favorite things to do in Paris?

Objects of desire

I've got a list longer than my arm of all the things I desire. Here's my top 3 for now. Unfortunately, I have an expensive taste so these come with an exorbitant price tag. I call "investments" (ok, I'm sensible to understand that we're not talking about bonds, shares or properties etc here) as they are timeless classics and will never date.

1. Rick Owens Leather Biker Jacket

Until I've tried on a Rick Owens leather jacket recently, I've never understood why many eulogize and extol the virtues of a piece of clothing. I mean, for heaven's sake, it's just a leather jacket. Well....until I tried one on. It was like ahhhh..... revelation. I've never worn a leather jacket which fits so perfectly on my shoulders AND waist. I look like I have an amazing figure. Anything that hides all the wobbly bits and accentuate the positive gets my vote. When worn unzipped, the cascading lapels fall beautifully to the side changing the look of the jacket completely. The cut and tailoring are infinitely impeccable. Rick Owens is a genius! This jacket is way up on my wish list.

Rick Owens Blistered Leather Jacket from LuisaViaRoma £1029.60

2. Burberry Short Double Breasted Trench Coat

I've worn my black trench coat which I picked up from the back streets of Hong Kong to bits. I bought it so many years ago for a measly £30 and it holds up unbelievably well. What I don't have is a beige or taupe trench coat. I picked up one from Debenhams Petite range but hubby loathed the sight of it. The Zara version with puff sleeves didn't hold up too well. I've been eyeing a Burberry trench coat for the longest time. I tried one on not too long ago and it was love at first sight. I need this for spring!

Burberry Short Double Breasted trench coat £695

3. Isabel Marant Dicker Boots

I've come to the realization that the real McCoy's the best. I've purchased the Topshop ankle boots but the fit isn't all that fantastic on my tiny narrow feet. It pains me to say this but sometimes one just has to spend the money to get the best without resorting to the cheaper alternative. I can only hope these boots come in my size.

Isabel Marant Dicker Boots £345from Ruby & Tallulah

Biker Leather Jacket

I don't recall last year's sales were this spectacular. Right now, it's the tail end of the winter sales season and retailers are desperately trying to get rid of their old stock to make way for the Spring/Summer collection. I've picked up bargains after bargains with discounts up to 85% off and an additional 10-25% on top of huge markdown. There's also buy one at 50%-75% off and you get another sale item of your choice for free. Insane. I've stocked up Little L's wardrobe for the two years. At his parents' request, I've purchased an entire wardrobe for my nephew, Little Z at 75%-80%. With the prevalence of online shopping, it's incredibly easy to click and buy. The temptation's too great when the little ones are asleep (finally!) and you go online and shop to your little heart's content.

I've been on the hunt for a biker leather jacket for 2 years now. I've tried jackets from Acne, Doma, Vince, Ted Baker, Topshop (APPALLING quality!) and several other High St brands with no success. I can't deny I have a hankering for either a Balenciaga or Rick Owens leather jacket (I'm not fussy) but £1500 is out of my price range. I've avoided going near stores that carry them lest the temptation is too great. Anyway, while I was checking out a blog, I came across a review on All Saints leather jackets.  I've never ventured into an All Saints store because the dark and gloomy deconstructed look isn't my cup of tea. I scrambled to call them and yes (!), they have one last  motorcycle jacket in UK size 8 left at an incredible discount. The quality is astonishing considering its price point. It's made of Italian washed lambskin and lined with 100% cotton. I love that it molds to my body comfortably. Most importantly, it makes me feel like a badass rocker girl (a desperate attempt to re-live a my teenage years).

SPLURGE

Balenciaga Biker Jacket £1520

SAVE

All Saints Stanton Leather Jacket £295 now £132.75