Spring’s Beauty

 

Credit: style.com 

 

This picture from Burberry Prorsum sums up THIS season’s beauty model. It’s extremely rare that the faces of models this season is left almost unscathed by bronzer, isn’t it? Don’t you remember a couple of years ago when self-tanner and a deep bronze tan reigned supreme? I think it was featured so strongly in Versace and other major labels.

 

I think this look  in the picture is super easy to achieve. Super smooth and flawless skin is obviously the main focus, so EXFOLIATE AND MOISTURIZE! I like Dermalogica’s Gentle Cream Exfoliant. Moisturizer is vital. Try Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer (comes with SPF15, if you like). This leaves your skin surface moisturized and well primed. To give an extra radiance boost to your skin, don’t hesitate to use a primer. Try Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer SPF20. It leaves the skin with a great glow and just enough radiance to seem like you’re glowing from within. 

 

 

Now that you’ve gotten the base right, lightly highlight your face with the very fabulous and my number 1 must-have product YSL Touche Eclat in Number 2 Ivory. Apply it to the planes of the face – your cheekbones, down the nose, the inside of your eye and the brow bone. Now, what you’ve got to do is to contour your cheekbones very lightly – none of that whole harsh lines thing going on. Lightly brush a little of bronzer – I love M.A.C’s Bronzing Powder in Bronze – under your cheekbones to give it a little of definition. Don’t go overboard. Very-much-less is more.

 

 

As you can tell, the eyes were kept very natural – I reckon a touch of the YSL Touche Eclat can counter any darkness caused by late nights. As for the lips, a light pink gloss was used – those Stila lip glosses are superb at giving that shine!Tune in for more of my little tricks and tips! 

Victoria Beckham’s Purple Ostrich Birkin

Check out Victoria Beckham’s fabulous looking Hermes Birkin in Purple (maybe violine or raisin) Ostrich. We all know how difficult it is to get a Birkin, what more a purple ostrich one! It’s a great exotic and a great quirky colour that looks absolutely posh. Pun intended.

 

All of these 3 fabulous looking women look so different. Let me disect their style!

 

Dita von Tesse: Obviously the fairest of them all (skin colour wise, of course), and her navy blue moon dress by the designer himself really stands out. I love how she’s carrying a book-like clutch and accessorizing with a great cocktail ring, a brooch and louboutins.

 

Claudia Schiffer: Clearly the tallest of them all. Her look is just so quirky!! That smile, that tousled blonde hair, the leopard print YSL belt and clutch, and that gold bracelet and shoes just look so together! Note how her skirt is the same one as Victoria Beckham’s, only in a different colour and not a dress.

 

Victoria Beckham: As usual, looking posh and dressed to the nines. Her fur (most probably faux) looks great with the Roland Mouret dress she’s donning, and doesn’t she look great and just like a snow bunny with her trademark tan? Girl has also matched her purple Birkin with violet Louboutins. The dress looks great on her figure as it fits well and looks great!

 

These 3 were undoubtedly the most stylish and fashionable for Paris Fashion Week! 

Fall 2007 Fashion

There are 10 key pieces for each season, and this fall, it is no exception.

1. The cape: a new triangular silhouette updates the silhouette and don’t forget to balance this volumous top with skinny trousers and chunky heels. Look at this cape from Jil Sander. It’s refreshing and exudes a ‘darth vader’ kinda look.

credit: style.com

2. Super wide belts: double or triple buckled belts pull in the entire waist to give that gorgeous hourglass figure. It’s super flattering to the body, and you can wear it over a dress or a fantastic trench coat.
This belt is from Burberry Prorsum – love their collections this year.

credit: style.com

3. A belted tunic: I think these were seen at Marni or Miu Miu. Anyways, a belted tunic can be worn over a slim fitted pencil skirt with knitted stockings and the new Prada curved patent shoes will look fierce. Also, you can wear a tunic over a turtleneck will look great too.

4. Trousers are so in this season. High waisted, slouchy, widelegged trousers are great with a slim fitted men’s shirt and chunky heels or oxfords. Another alternative is a tailored pair, which will look great with a a feminine, dressy shirt and stilletos.

5. Hats, hats, hats! Remember my post on the Lanvin hat that I bought while I was in Melbourne? Yes, it’s official: hats are in this season! They were all over the runway, from Hermes to Marc Jacobs, everyone was hat-ted.

6. Textures. Quilting was featured in so many collections, from jackets to trench coats and even patent quilted gloves that go up to the elbow (as seen in Burberry Prorsum)

7. Patent everything. Enough said.

8. Evening tanks, dresses or knits look fabulous, especially with bronze or matte silver sequins. Tres chic!

9. Pencil skirts will be worn by everyone with opague tights and oxford heels (see YSL)

10. Turtlenecks are sexy, especially the thin cashmere ones. Make sure they’re of the best quality.

A peek into my life

A little while back, a friend asked me to do this little questionaire. Just for my darling readers, I shall.

Describe your style. Sleek, modern and edgy.
Who rules in your closet? Calvin Klein – timeless pieces that one can wear all year round.
What’s in your bag? iPod, Prada coin case, Prada Lizard Skin wallet, Hermes Agenda, cellphone, dVb sunglasses.
Best bargain? Pair of Pierre Hardy calfskin leather boots.
Good-luck charms? Hermes leather/palladium ring – been wearing it everyday since I bought it.
Whose closet would you like to raid? Jude Law and David Beckham.
Signature scent Dior Higher Energy
What are you wearing now? Marc by Marc Jacobs cream T-shirt with ties, black denim skinny jeans by Miu Miu and Pierre Hardy boots.
First big fashion purchase? Violet Burberry trenchcoat
Signature accessory Hermes enamel/palladium clic clac bracelet, leather watch and Hermes ring, dVb sunglasses

Bag pick of the year Prada Jacquard Logo bag, Balenciaga Extra Courier, YSL Croc embossed Downtown/Tribute (for the ladies), Hermes lindy (ladies!), Valentino pleated leather bag in red (ladies!)

Product you can’t live without Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Malin+Goetz Vitamin E Oil-free Moisturizer, sunscreen.

Summer signature outfit? I love wearing those city shorts (shorts that are made of formal trousers material) with cuffs, black patent sandals and a simple, one-coloured T-shirt.

Fall/Winter signature outfit? Bomber jacket with straight cut jeans or a trench coat with skinny jeans.

Most coveted labels Lanvin, Hermes, Prada.

Basically, I don’t like to wear clothes that are too loud or are too in-your-face. The occasional loud tees are alright, but I only limit it to clubbing nights-out. Clothes that spell out the designer name is just too flashy – something that I dislike. Accessories pull any look together, but as a rule of thumb, keep it simple. Sunglasses also add to any outfit – aviators are always in style, oversized shades glam it up, and, retro visors bring back some fun from the 80s too. For shoes, I’ve got a nice collection of different colours and styles. Flip flops are casual, but looks great with jeans. I love boots worn with jeans or even formal trousers, and mocassins or boat shoes look fabulous with both jeans/trousers or shorts. It’s a pity that Singapore doesn’t have 4 seasons, and now that I’m stuck here for 2 years, all my jackets are going to be retired into the closet. Jackets are so great ‘cos you can wear a vintage T-shirt underneath, but still look sharp with the jacket over the tee.

Get that look – Carolyn Murphy

It’s the skin we all want. It’s the kind of skin we all try to obtain, but is it possible? Of course it is. Here are some secrets on how to get plumped, healthy, lovely skin. Sure, it might seem to take a lot, but it’s definitely worth it when you look into the mirror when you’re 50 and don’t see your face melting.

I’ve talked a lot about skin care before, and you know my stand on skin care.

To get Carolyn Murphy’s look, it is essential to have clean, and fresh skin.

1. Exfoliate using either a chemical or physical scrub. This removes dead skin cells that may cause your skin to look dull. I recommend Laura Mercier Face Polish.

2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Obviously, use something that’s suitable to your skin type. For normal to oily skins, I strongly recommend SK-II Facial Treatment Solution or Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion. For normal to dry skins, use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer to hydrate the skin. Remember to wait for the moisturizer to sink in before proceeding.

3. Primer is essential. What primer is is that it smooths out the skin, fills in pores, lines and provides a smooth and fresh canvas for what’s going on top of it. Nars Primer is fantastic. So is Laura Mercier’s.

4. Foundation or tinted moisturizer – your pick. Depending on how much coverage you need, choose your pick. A tip to get your base super real and natural, blend it in using your fingers AND in swirling motions, also, blend it out and down. Apply concealer where needed. And use YSL Touche Eclat for under the eyes.

5. Illuminators and radiance enhancers. Too many people use a too-white illuminator, and it looks bloody fake. That shouldn’t be the way. You’re supposed to look like you’re lit up from within. YSL complexion enhancer gives you a natural glow. Simply pat in and then use a sponge to blend it in. Apply it on your brow bone, cheekbones and your cupid’s bow.

6. Bronzer to sculpt. Suck your cheeks in to look like a skeleton, and then lightly brush bronzer towards your temples. Apply a little to the forehead, nose and chin. Don’t forget your decolletage! MAC and Nars do fantastic ones.

7. If you look carefully at Carolyn’s eyes, it’s natural, but yet still very glamourous. The brows are to be neat and the lashes are long and mascara-ed. My dear friend MissT swears by Lancome‘s mascara, and Diorshow Mascara. (Tip: My friend uses Shu Uemura‘s mascara base underneath.)

8. The eye make-up here looks natural and very glowy. All you should use is just liner, and 2 colours. Line both top and bottom of your eyes, and make sure there are NO smudges at all. Use a gold eyeshadow and apply it all over the lid, including near the tear duct – near the nose bridge. Then, use a light brown shadow and apply to the inside crease.

9. Lip colour, as seen above, should be natural, and glamourous. Use a natural coloured liner and fill the entire lip, and gloss the entire lip area.

Hold your head high, and look glamourous!

Then and now.

I was at a fabulous English inspired furniture shop today and spotted a September 2002 Vogue on an eucalyptus wood coffee table. I was flipping through it, and what I saw in the editorials were the striking similarities with the current trends right now – with the only difference that the trends now are a little more polished and sleeker. Like the whole volume look that rocked fashion world for A/W 06/07. An article I saw was pretty interesting, and seeing that how current it actually looked, I thought that it might be worth a mention here.

3 looks that were rocked in 2002, and can be definitely be done today as well.

1. Glam
The look is revolved around the pencil skirt or fitted trousers, dramatically high heels, structured jackets, lush leather totes, and the overall look should be polished.
Think: Timeless croc heels, structured jackets, fitted bottoms, large bling-y jewellery (but not too many as you’ll look like a christmas tree), croc totes, large totes, Chanel 2.55s, Hermes Birkins, Hermes Kellys, Lanvin Kentucky totes, etc.
Look: Flawless complexion, lip liner + lipstick + lip gloss, full bronzer+blush sculpturing, mascara-ed lashes, clean eyeliner.

2. Grunge
It’s a little Olsen twins on a very good day, a little Lohan, a little Zoe-bot.
Think: Rick Owens leather jackets, premium hoodies from Puma (not the generic kind..the ones like from 96hours), too-cool-for-school T-shirts, skull/pistol charm necklaces, kitten heels, those Balenciaga boots, Rolling Stones T-shirts, giant YSL Muse bag in patent black, Balenciaga Weekender with gold studs.
Look: Natural complexion (tinted moisturizer with concealer where needed), mascara, lip gloss.

3. Goth
Think: Black black black. Lots of strong lines, play with volume, play with textures and fabrics. Black shirts with a super tight pair of black jeans, black pantent heels, etc.. For bags, think Marc Jacobs Stam, YSL Double bag, Miu Miu ruffled leather bags, Prada Gauffres.
Look: Smoky smoky smoky eye, natural lips (just a dab of lip balm), loads of attitude.

Some fashion trends keep resurfacing after a while… Let’s just hope stuff like too-short footless leggings will get out of fashion. And push that scruffy, no-effort-put-into-dressing look off the table.

P.S Feel free to leave comments! =)

Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez

These 2 gorgeous women, in my opinion, are at the tops of the style ladder. They aren’t afraid to take risks, and always look impeccably put together. Sure, they may have loads of haters, but their fashion sense and style is undoubtedly one of the best. And let’s not forget that Jennifer and Victoria are friends and have been rumoured to start a fashion line together after meeting in Rome during Tom’s and Katie’s wedding. Also, Jennifer’s been giving some love to Victoria by wearing dVb sunglasses – which, incidentally, I adore! I say all this, even though I do think that Victoria should, erm, cover up her boob area a little some times.

In that picture, Victoria’s wearing that Giambattista Valli waist-cinching belt and that grey off-shoulder piece with her perma-tan and blonde crop. Jennifer’s wearing some YSL tribute pumps that have made their mark in the fashion scene.

Travel essentials

I’ve been doing a bit of travelling..but what I hate most is travelling on a 14-hour plane ride back and forth from London to Singapore and vice versa. My essential’s for a super long plane tripe would be:

Sleeping pills – definitely a must. Would just pick them up from Boots in the terminal.
Laptop – music music music.
MAC Cleansing wipes – to remove whatever dirt and grime
Shu Uemura Deep Sea Water Spray in Lavender – for instant moisture
Laura Mercier Hydro-soothing Gel Masque – for slathering all over the face!
YSL Touche Eclat – to cover up those hideous dark circles
YSL Complexion Enhancer – lovely radiance giver
Dior Skinflash – highlights in a flash
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream – fantastic moisturizer for the lips
Kiehl’s sculpting hair pomade – to get my trademark sleek hair

Gosh, I really am a sight to be seen on planes. I’ll be flying back to sunny, humid Singapore in 3 days. Really looking forward to it!!

YSL Downtown Homme

When I tried on this downtown bag yesterday, what struck me was the size. It’s quite small compared to another huge wheat coloured tote from YSL I tried as well. It’s a straw weave on the front, canvas on the sides, leather panels going down the front, leather trim + handles and the YSL luggage tag. As much as it’s a wonderful bag, I just found it far too small. £499 from YSL Sloane Street.

YSL-Touche Eclat

YSL Touche Eclat has been one of the forth-runners in the beauty industry’s amazingly tough market of concealers. This is not only a concealer, but also a highlighter and radiance giver. Used under the eyes, lines and dark circles magically disappear with ease and when used on spots/acne scars, they seem to vanish as well. Make-up artists and stars like Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet have this as a staple in their make-up kits. It comes in a posh gold tube with a pump dispenser. Worth every penny and makes you look like you slept 12hours, when you only slept 3. S$50 from Tangs Singapore.