Style Harmony

I think the belt is the most under-appreciated and under-used accessory in our wardrobe. If you want to update your style, the belt is an excellent choice for starters. It is versatile, flattering (depending on where you wear it on your body) and affordable. If you are high-waisted, wearing your belt lower such as at your hips will elongate your upper torso. If you have a straight and narrow body shape, wearing a belt will give the illusion of a defined waist.

Belt up for a defined waist

It can also instantly update a look – for example, the 1980′s floral romper looks chic with a belted waist. If you are well-endowed, wear a thinner belt. Wearing a thick belt when you are heavy chested like Kim Kardashian will make you look like you have no upper torso and hence, your body will look unproportionate. Invest in a great leather belt today!

Update the style with a belt

Tags: belt, body shape, heavy chested, high-waisted, style

One can never say no to flowers. So when I was checking out the bazaar at Orchard Central last weekend, I simply could not resist stopping by a booth that was fully laid out with the prettiest display of floral and vintage inspired necklaces. The beautiful creations were carefully handcrafted by Serene, owner of Serenite Designs. The style is elegant, pretty and feminine. Reminds me of Miriam Haskell’s creations (see below), one of my favourite costume jewelry designer from the 1920′s.

Necklace by Miriam Haskell

Serene explained that each piece is specially handcrafted by her and she combined vintage costume jewelry with modern beads. For example, the yellow beaded necklace I bought; the pendant was actually a vintage earring. I just love the vibrant colours and vintage look and it is easy to wear with skirts, dresses and jeans. There is also an array of pastel coloured rose pendants mixed with howlite beads. I got this charming piece which is a coral peach rose pendant with turquoise beads and a little bird charm; perfect for my summer dresses. You can also order custom-made pieces and even bring your own vintage collection for Serene to turn it into a personalised costume jewelry. For more information, visit www.serenitedesigns.etsy.com.

Tags: dresses, elegant, jewelry, romantic, summer, sweet, vintage

I just love the peep-toe shoes that are so in fashion right now. Peep-toe style is not only elegant and sexy but it also elongates the legs. Take a look at the two pictures below. The one on the left shows Kate Winslet in a black body hugging dress with a pair of covered black heels. On the right is America Ferrera in a simple elegant black dress with peep-toe shoes. Both have curvy bodies and certainly not a size zero! While they both looked absolutely gorgeous in their black dresses,Kate Winslet’s legs appeared shorter and her feet wider with the horizontal lines of her shoes. America’s peep-toe shoes are a better choice if you want to extend the length of your legs.

America Ferrera

Kate Winslet

Tags: long legs

Well, to wrap up my take on the SATC fashion and how you can create your own version, here are some photos taken at a recent event where the theme was, well, SATC of course! I came dressed as my fashion icon, Carrie. It didn’t take me long to decide on which style to emulate though every outfit Carrie wore was nothing but fabulous. I quickly settled for the pantsuit style which is the trend now and found a cool fun drawstring pantsuit at FELT boutique. The elephant print was quirky and the colour was perfect for my skintone. The elephant print set the tone for the shoes and accessories which was tribal. I paired it with funky shimmery gold strappy heels from Pedder Red and a golden ruffled silk shawl from Tangs. For accessories, I wore a brass bangle from Island Shop and a large hairband rather than a head scarf as the latter emphasised my wide cheeks. I went for an autumn palette consisting gold, brown and green which reflected the colours of the desert. It didn’t take me long to find all the right items as I know just where to shop. For all my efforts, I won the best dressed:-) Enjoy the photos!

Tags: jumpsuit, shopping, trbal

Samantha Jones looks HOTTER than ever in the second installment of SATC. She is an inspiration to all women of her age; 50-something has never looked more fabulous and desirable. I wonder if there’s a little of Samantha in all of us… style-wise, I mean:-) Samantha’s alluring style exudes confidence; it is loud, bold and all WOMAN. She is not afraid to show of her curves and I think women who can do that can be very attractive inside-out. You don’t have to show a lot of skin, just a sneak preview will do! Add some Sam style into your wardrobe and your social/love life will definitely spice up! To get her look, you need big chunky embellished belts, chandelier earrings, animal prints; anything that is loud and bright. I got this gorgeous teal colour top from a Thai designer trade fair recently for below SGD$100. I can wear a sheer long-sleeved tee underneath with slim-cut pants for work and just on it’s own with opaque tights, chunky earrings and peep toe boots for a night outing.

Tags: alluring, chunky belts, peep toe boots, samantha, SATC

Whether you are a Sex and the City (SATC) die-hard fan or not, you have to love the fashion in the movie! Be it Carrie’s dramatic skirts, Samantha’s va-va-voom dresses, Charlotte’s romantic frocks or Miranda’s masculine yet flirty maxis, there is a little something in the styles for each of us. However, to have the exact pieces worn as worn by the starlets in the movie, be prepared to splash USD$10million – estimated wardrobe budget for the movie according to Cosmopolitan! As you know, there is always a way to look like them or close enough, for less:-) If you want to carry a little SATC style to work, try one of these pretty earrings (only SGD$15 from Bangkok) which is exotic yet subtle enough for office or adorn a neutral-coloured wrap dress with a multi-coloured fun bangle; which reminds me of Miranda’s Hermes striped maxi she wore on the desert (see picture on right)

Tags: SATC, style

Summer trend is here and the way to perk up your day in this hot and sunny weather is to add a pop of colour in your wardrobe. It instantly updates your look too. While not everyone is daringly bold with colours, those who love colours like I do will want to don a jacket or sheath in a bright, rich colour like crimson red or royal blue. Do not pair it with shoes and accessories in the same colour tone; matchy-matchy is not good! Your shoes and outfit will be fighting for attention, thus losing the focal point of your ensemble (see Kylie Minogue in blue dress and blue shoes). Fergie, of the Black Eye Peas does it right by wearing a silver-toned heels and letting her bright blue dress be the main attention.

Wearing brights with black shoes is always a safe choice but predictable, boring and too high contrast. I would suggest doing a nude heel like Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City). It looks more harmonious and also projects an updated look as nude shoes are the current trend.

Tags: colour, nude, summer trend

OUT

1. Frosty pink lipstick (so 1980s)
2. Harsh eyeliner
3. Smudgy eye makeup
4. Red lipsticks
5. Heavy foundation

IN

1. Pastel eye colours
2. Blue lids from turquoise to indigo (so 1980s)
3. Smoky eyes
4. Nude lip colour
5. Bold matte lips

Tags: eye makeup, smoky, trend

Make-up is God’s gift to women. Without it, some people feel naked, and some feel their confidence evaporating into the thin air. Especially when you have that pesky threatening to burst anytime pimple; all you need is just a dab of concealer to ‘erase’ it. Looking around, I observe that in Singapore, most women do not wear make-up  to work or they are still stuck in the 80′s frosty fuschia lips! I think women generally find that putting on make-up is a chore and time-consuming. Well, time will always be a challenge in our busy lives, but if you really care about your image be it professionally or personally, then putting aside 15 minutes for make-up will ensure you walk out to face the day with confidence, poise and style. Knowing the right makeup application techniques and using quality products can help reduce time and make your makeup last longer. Makeup is as essential as putting on your best outfit for the day. You never know who you may bump into at the market, bus stop or elevator; it could be your prospective client, boss or even life partner. First impression matters and a little gloss and blusher will make a huge impact on your life!

Tags: 80s look, makeup

A woman can never have enough pairs of shoes. For me, it is accessories! They are like icing on the cake; they instantly add “Wow” to your total look. Sometimes that is all you need to complete your outfit, a statement piece of jewelry like a chunky necklace, a cocktail ring or a nice bracelet watch. Accessories can also be used to enhance or camouflage your face and body. For example, by simply adding a necklace can make your face and neckline look more balanced especially if the depth of the neckline doesn’t look right on you. Shorter necks can be elongated by wearing longer necklaces. Throwing layers of chains over a turtle-neck will make one look ultra chic and not look like a stuffed mutton!

Tags: accessories, elongate, necklaces