Style Harmony

This is my favourite time of the year! This is the period where fashion week kicks off and all the boutiques and malls are putting out their new fashion arrivals and runway shows. Magazines are saturated with reports and updates on the latest fashion labels in town, trends and fashion advice. From colour blocking to nautical prints to wedges and more, there are so many things to buy! And I know for many of you out there, it can be overwhelming looking at all these trends but not knowing what to buy. Let’s not get too emotional and start rushing out on a shopping spree simply because it is the “IN” thing or on “SALE”! Truth be told, sometimes women (me included!) buy stuff only to regret later because we do not know what to match it with or it didn’t look that great afterall! Well, it is not about buying but rather, ask yourself how can the new purchase(s) add value to your current wardrobe and personal style? Here are my expert picks for this season (see photo below, clockwise), which I feel is evergreen and easy to coordinate.

1. Rolled up cropped jeans – A stylish alternative to bermudas and sweat pants. You can roll the hem up or down! Roll it down and wear a trench jacket over it for a dress down Friday and roll it up for the weekends. Cropped jeans will flatter women with shorter legs. I love mine from Guess!
2. Nautical top – Stripes never go out of style and versatile enough to match with solid colours and other prints. I wear my multi coloured striped blouse I got from Zara with a floral kimono-styled pants.
3. Flats – Great for summer and our local climate. Flats can go with everything (except office attire, of course!) and you can show off your beautifully manicured feet:-) EVery woman needs a great looking pair of flats and I got my stylish black and camel Spartan flats from Riccino. They make great comfortable shoes!
4. Bright coloured bag – A handbag in a bright colour instantly updates your look. Pick one in your favourite hue. I found my Liz Claiborne orange clutch when I was in Manila last year. I didn’t know the label carries such cool handbags. Goes well with jeans or an evening dress.
5. Green stone earrings – Jade earrings are very trendy now. Once regarded as jewellery that only grannies wear, designers have now modernised the traditional gem and you can see Hollywood celebrities like Angelina Joilie, Eva Mendes and Beyonce sporting jade earrings. You don’t have to get a real piece of jade; there are many affordable options available in the market.
6. Nude eyeshadow – I have to talk about makeup! I just love my neutral colored eyeshadow “Powdery Nut” from the Makeup Store. It is perfect for brightening up my eyes on days when I don’t feel like putting on full eye makeup.

What’s your favourite must-have for this season?

I have always liked JADE. In fact, my middle name in Chinese is Jade. Some women, especially the young, may associate it with their moms, grandmas; in other words, old, traditional, boring, not trendy etc… That can be true but it really depends on how jade is being used in design and style. I recently bought a piece of necklace with a large jade pendant. The necklace is made of sterling silver and the jade is light green in colour. I will not get into the wikipedia of this beautiful gemstone but just that you know, jade comes in many nuances of green and white, black, yellow, orange and even pink! I tried it on with my Betsey Johnson colourful floral  dress and the combination was FABULOUS! I had everyone talking about it:-) Match jade accessories with day dresses, smart suits or tank top and jeans for a modern twist. The key is the more ornate your jade is, the more modern your outfits should be.