Fashion & Style Diary
NYC is still prettiest in Spring, when the weather is fine and skirts and shorts can come out to play! Tribeca is one of my favourite areas in the city, and it also hold special meaning as that’s where I stayed during all my trips there last year. There are some great bars and restaurants in the area (Nobu is not bad at all, but my favourites are Locanda Verde, Bouley and Marc Fogione), great shopping and also some lovely places (and random parks!) to explore.
Welcome to my home! This is my little space in all its pre-renovation glory. Many people who saw it thought it was a terrible buy, but I definitely saw its potential. Let me know what you think of it!
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I didn’t get this pretty, pleated crop top in time for CNY so I ended up wearing it on Valentine’s Day. What’s your go-to look for a date?
Innit Bangkok top | Uniqlo skinny jeans | BCBG Max Azria heels | Jipaban cuff | Michael Kors timepiece | Celine purse | Manicure courtesy of The Nail Status |
How was your Valentine’s Day? I know this holiday has a bad reputation for being overly commercialized; a time when flowers, chocolates, food and anything remotely ‘romantic’ and ‘gift-like’ is overpriced. While I think the holiday has been somewhat bastardized by clever marketing people/opportunists cashing in on romance, if you sit down and think about it, the idea is a lovely one – a day set aside to let the people you love and care about know that you love and care about them. (I think about songs like ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ – excuse the sappiness!)
Ironically, typically ‘romantic’ gestures, while sweet, don’t really do it for me. I mean, I like chocolates and love flowers and teddy bears as much as girls are ‘supposed’ too – I think the stereotype is what I find most annoying! I honestly really do love chocolates, flowers and especially, teddies though. I appreciate when a man goes the extra mile to do something ‘romantic’ – in this category are the Hollywood cliches of what those are; running in the rain to look for you (haiyoh, sure to fall ill after); proposing in Paris on or near the Eiffel Tower (together with 899 923 123 123 other people before him); 99 roses (hopefully nicely arranged); a roomful of balloons (hopefully none of them pop). I just have two problems with the whole thing: I think Valentine’s Day should be about showing people you love and care about how much you do, and that surely goes beyond your partner. I think it would be nice if we told our family and friends that too. Also, people complain about how commercial the holiday is, but the demand for overpriced roses/chocolate/teddy bears on the 14th of February is obviously there because people are still buying!
Maybe ladies should take the lead on this and tell your man not to go mad with the ‘romantic’ purchases. While many men do it because they really just want to show their ladies their love on this day, many also do it out of ‘fear’ – there seem to be quite a few demanding ladies, and there is intrinsic pressure on their men to ‘deliver’. To digress slightly; a girl once told me her man got her friends and family together so he could propose in front of them, which I thought was sweet. She however expressed some disappointment that he didn’t propose atop the Eiffel Tower – her definition of how a ‘romantic’ proposal should be.
My man was overseas last year and he surprised me with a flower delivery because he couldn’t be around, which I do admit, really brightened my day (although I am sure they were massively overpriced!). This year, I told him to please not spend money on flowers as I can now arrange my own. This is the arrangement I did for my mum, who loved it!
I had to work on Valentine’s, which suited me just fine. Met the ladies from Wing Tai to talk work over tea at TWG, and they were so sweet, and so thoughtful – gave me a Valentine’s Day gift when they really didn’t have to. It was so unexpected and sweet! To me at least, the best gifts are unexpected.
Had a simple but meaningful dinner at home with my man, before heading out to host an event later that night.
Let me know how you spent yours! And remember that it’s never too late to let your loved ones know you love them.
“If Tomorrow Never Comes”
Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She’s lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel
About her in my heart
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she’s my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes
‘Cause I’ve lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them
Now I live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there’s no second chance to tell her how I feel
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she’s my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes
So tell that someone that you love
Just what you’re thinking of
If tomorrow never comes
Final part of this chat with Divian and Dee Kosh from 987fm (otherwise known collectively as The Double D’s), and this time they talk about what to wear on a first date, what styles they hate and…which men they love (seems we have the same taste!).
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My skin is extremely finicky. When people ask if it is oily or dry, I honestly don’t know how to answer them. It can get shiny, especially on the nose, but it is also prone to dryness, flaking and peeling. And I still get breakouts every now and then, which is really annoying.
I was introduced to Trinity Medical Centre (Marine Parade), and was invited to come down for treatments. I like that it’s in the east (rather than in town or in the west, where most clinics seem to be!) and hence really convenient for me.
I was asked to bring my daily skincare and makeup, so they could let me know if what I was using was suitable. Will do a separate post on my skincare regime soon!
At the clinic, I met with Dr Lim and Dr Kan, who assessed my skin and also gave me advice on my skincare. They suggested I get a carbon laser peel done as this would clear my skin, reduce pore size, enhance skin radiance, and help with my random breakouts.
Laser is the acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. They emit a single wavelength of light that is concentrated into an intense beam of energy. Laser is able to stimulate thermal reactions (hence heating effects) when absorbed. When irradiated on the skin, the laser light energy is absorbed by the pigments and converted to heat.
For the carbon laser peel, a thin layer of carbon is first spread over the skin.
The laser beam is absorbed by the carbon particles due to the dark colour. The beam is thus focused on the epidermis.
It didn’t hurt, although it wasn’t exactly pleasurable either. It felt like pins and needles, and only started to hurt a little when it was almost done. There was also this odd knocking sound – Dr Kan explained that that was the sound of the laser hitting the carbon particles. There was also a slight suction sound as a gentle vacuum removed the carbon particles as the laser moved over to another carbon layer.
The carbon particles apparently also exfoliate the skin and purge skin pores, so I was warned that I may experience a slight breakout in the first few days following treatment as my pores were purged.
I got one or two small spots in the days following; nothing major. And I am really happy with the results!
If you want to try it, you can get a 6 session package at SGD 1680.
Treatment by Trinity Medical Centre (Marine Parade).
Radiant Orchid was named the ‘colour of the season’ by Pantone, and said to ‘intrigue the eye and spark imagination’ (Shannon Mason, J.C. Penney trend expert). I looked into my wardrobe and realised I have nothing in this blend of fuchsia and purple – the horrors! Lol.
Found this burgundy pleated top with Radiant Orchid flowers stitched on the sides, so it’s have to do for now!
At the risk of sounding like a fashion victim, I do think it’s a pretty shade, and one that is flattering on Asian skin tones, so time to stock up!
American Eagle Outfitters pleated top | Cropped tailored pants from Bangkok | Charles & Keith belt & heels | Vintage timepiece from Etsy |