Sunday 31 July 2011

Nice To Haves...

...a super cozy living space with comfy sofas, a solid wood coffee table and fluffy sheepskin rugs,

 ...a huge traditional kitchen where you could just spend all day and all night cooking and baking (not so sure about the colour of this one but I love the style!),

...a garden patio where you can sit out all day (or inbetween the baking) and soak up a bit of sun and fresh air,

...a deck with a seating area that looks out onto the water,

...and again,

...or even better a pool that looks out onto the water,

...a rustic interior with a french influence, lots of white, wooden frames and high ceilings, 

...and lastly a bed! We are sleeping on a sofa bed right now, cos our bed was giving us back pains, and I would do anything to have a comfy bed and a good nights sleep. I guess the good thing about the sofa bed at the moment is that it gets me up every morning, but in saying that, I would love to climb up into this one right now!

Source: Cococozy

Saturday 30 July 2011

So Young Kang

I started to put together an outfit inspiration post in Polyvore using lots of whites and neutral clothes and accessories but I decided to scrap that and go with this amazing editorial instead. These are my favourite looks from the "Getaway Chic" spread featuring Korean supermodel So Young Kang through the lens of Bolec. I love these shots, the lighting is great, the styling by Mirim Lee is sophisticated and minimal, and the colours are just what I feel like moving towards - more whites, creams, neutral nudes and browns. 


Source: Harper's Bazaar Korea, July 2011

It's also very exciting to see more and more Asian models being featured in the fashion media in their own countries but also popping up in all the Western Fashion capitals. They truely are starting to have a really strong presence in the fashion world, and whether you like it or not, the increased use and visibility of Asian models (both men and women) is definitely something more than just a trend.

"Times are changing, and I think fashion has to evolve as the world is changing. The increase in Asian models shows that there's a big market in China."


       - Jia Jing (in China Daily, March 2011)

Friday 29 July 2011

Thrice Cooked Chips


Made these thrice cooked chips today and we had hot chip sandwiches for lunch! Yep, they are cooked three times, boiled once and deep fried twice. I love how these chips always turn out so nice and crispy on the outside while soft and fluffy on the inside. They're really easy to make but you just need to be patient if you want them to turn out perfectly golden and crispy. 

A quick recipe on how I made them...

1. Peel and wash 4 large potatoes (or however many you like) and cut into evenly sized chips.

2. Place chips in a saucepan of cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer on a low heat for 4-5 minutes until they are half cooked and still a little crunchy in the centre (keep an eye on them cos you don't want to overdo them - they are still going to be cooked two more times). Drain, leave to cool and then place in the fridge/freezer for half an hour.

3. Deep fry the chips on a low heat (small bubbles) for 10 minutes or until they start to take on a slight golden colour. Drain on paper towels, leave to cool and then place in the fridge/freezer for half an hour.

4.  Deep fry the chips again, this time on a medium high heat (bigger bubbles) for 4-5 minutes or until they are crisp and a nice golden brown colour.

Enjoy!

Thursday 28 July 2011

Outfit | Black & White


My outfit for today. Got a lot of stares as I walked through town and it wasn't until I got home and saw these pictures, that I realised how sheer this blouse actually is! If I wore this anywhere else, it probably wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary, but Singapore being the conservative country that it is, you would think that I was prancing down Orchard Road in a bikini with the amount of attention I got. Ah well, that's what happens when you get dressed in a darkish room and then head out into the bright sunlight.

I'm wearing a blouse from a boutique in Singapore, self-made shorts and Converse shoes as always!

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Love Chucks

Since I'm pretty much living in my chucks these days, I'm always on the lookout for new ideas on what I can wear them with, or rather, what I can wear with them. I love chucks just because they're so comfortable, stylish and inexpensive so you can get a few different pairs in different colours and styles, and mix and match them in with different outfits. Here are some cool looks with chucks.


Source: Mode d'amour, Fashiontoast, The Sartorialist, ASOS

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Random Sweetness

Some random food photos from our last few weekends which have been mostly spent relaxing in cafes over a cup of coffee, iced chocolate and something sweet on the side. Considering I have more of a savoury palate, I'm really surprised at how much I'm into sweet things at the moment, especially cupcakes!

Monday 25 July 2011

Something Makes Me Crave The Cold

After living in Dunedin (South Island of New Zealand) for 7 years and now living in the tropics where it's summer all year round, I must say that I never complained as much about the cold than I do about the heat. And seeing pictures of the massive dumpings of snow back home at the moment, it makes me really crave the cold and even the snow right now!

We are off to Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei in the next coming months where I hope it will be a little bit cooler, but for now, some wintery inspiration for those who are lucky enough to have a winter!


Source: Stockholm Street Style, The Sartorialist, Elle.com, International Street Style

Sunday 24 July 2011

Outfit | Perfecting Imperfection


Wore this out yesterday to go into town and then I ended up going along to a styling competition with James as he was their "guest judge". I did feel a little underdressed but it didn't really worry me too much! I'm wearing a Promod button down shirt, self-made shorts, shoes from Tokyo and leather bracelet from Vietnam.

I was a bit hesitant in putting this one up just cos I wasn't completely happy with the overall look. I was trying to achieve that sort of nonchalent "disheveled elegance" kinda look, the one thats supposed to look like I just don't care (even though I really do) and the one that looks like I just casually threw the clothes together. But it didn't quite work out, the shirt looks too neatly placed and flat, and the sleeves look too neatly rolled up. I think the problem was that I was too conscious of what I was trying to achieve that I ended up overthinking it all to much. I think the same goes with a lot of things, that when you overthink things, or try too hard to achieve a certain look, it comes off as too polished, too overworked, and it ends up just not being you.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Autumn Palettes



If we lived in a country that had seasons, then Autumn would have to be my favourite. I just love the autumn colours - the reds, the browns, the yellows and the oranges and in all these images, the colours are toned down but bold and stirking at the same time and they all work so well together. The first two pictures are taken from a pre-fall shoot with models Wang Xiao, Xiao Wen and Rila Fukushima in V magazine #72, Fall Preview 2011. The third is probably my favourite photo from The Sartorialist. I couldn't stop looking at this photo when I saw it, I love her style and she looks so at ease with everything. And I want her hair!

It's been one long summer for us and I've actually forgotten what it's like to be cold. I miss having seasons and sometimes wish that we could have spring, winter or autumn maybe just for a day or two. That would be nice. We are yet to find somewhere that has the perfect climate, changing seasons, temperatures ranging from about 20-25 degrees all year round and no humidity! Does a place even exist?

Friday 22 July 2011

Crabs!


Well it's only taken us 18 months but we finally tried one of Singapore's signature dishes, Chilli Crab! Went out for dinner last night with some friends to Mellben Seafood in Ang Mo Kio, which apparently is one of the best places to go in Singapore for Chilli Crab. The picture above is actually of the Buttery Crab which came out first, but by the time the Chilli Crab came out, our fingers were too sticky and messy to take more photos. I never knew the crabs were so big and once you get past the messy and fiddly part of de-shelling them, they are everything they are talked up to be - juicy, fresh, succulent and tasty! 


We also had the Crab noodles which was one massive crab served in a claypot of noodle soup. Had the cam on the wrong settings for this shot but had to post it to show how big the crab was. This pot served seven of us and we still had some leftover. Can you spot the little eyes?! We also ordered lots of fried bread for dipping and a fried chilli chicken dish. It was all sooooo good (or "damn shiok" as the Singaporeans would say!) and definitely worth the wait (I'm sure people were queuing for more than an hour to get into this place!). Must make reservations next time! 

Thursday 21 July 2011

Bright Red Bottoms


Source: Stockholm Streetstyle, Jak & Jil, Just Jared, Elle, The Sartorialist

Spotlight has been having some great clearance sales on all sorts of fabrics lately and I've resorted to going there just to avoid the annoying shop assistants and poor quality fabrics in Chinatown. Chinatown is by far more convenient for me (2 minutes down the hill) but when it comes to quality and the fact that nothing has a price on it (so you will always get ripped off), I don't think I can ever go back there.

So, I've been in and out of Spotlight and every time my eyes are drawn to this beautiful bright red cotton canvas that I think would be perfect for a pair of shorts or pants. But then I think that I've never worn anything so bright before and that it wouldn't suit me and so I don't buy it and end up getting something khaki or white or stripes instead. I love all of these looks above as the bright red bottoms have been paired with such neutral and monotone colours which contrasts nicely against the red and makes the red the real stand out piece of the outfit. I guess I need to think more about what I could pair things with before buying fabric and now that I have put these images together, it has given me great inspiration. I think I might go back to see if the fabric's still there!

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Ming Xi X Style SCMP


Source: Style SCMP July 2011

Upcoming Chinese model Ming Xi is Shot by Zach Gold for Style SCMP in an editorial that is full of powerful silhouettes created by edgy designs, amazing cheekbones that the Chinese models are known for, and of course the big cotton candy deep purple coloured hair. This editorial does actually make me feel a bit better about my big and out-of-control hair at times. I think I need to ditch the hair straighteners and invest in a couple of teasing brushes so I too, can achieve this look. Or maybe not! 

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Outfit | Simple Green


Another really simple outfit. It's been a bit cooler the last two days which has made me realise how much it is actually the humidity that is the killer here and not the heat. Give us a dry burning sunshine heat any day and I'll be happy. Humidity is good for nothing! And I don't get why it seems to be so humid in Singapore and nowhere else in South East Asia is quite the same. Anyway, just gotta make do and I've resorted to wearing shorts out a lot. I'm gonna make myself a couple more pairs just because they're more do-able than pants right now. 

I'm wearing top and denim shorts from Tokyo, Converse shoes and bag from Taipei. I really feel I should get another decent bag but I'm so happy with this black one at the moment as it's always going to go with just about everything. Plus, it's leather and really big, so I can fit my camera and iPad in it as well as all the other unnecessary things I carry around. 

Monday 18 July 2011

Music Mondays

Music makes my world go round, almost as much as food does! I've started to really appreciate music and I think that not listening to the radio for a few years has a lot to do with that. Making a real effort this year to explore new music and get out and see more live music (I just wish more bands/artists stopped over in Singapore!) Also, been listening to all the free downloads on Urban Outfitters Music Mondays and they are fricken FANTASTIC! If you are up for listening to some cool new tunes you should definitely check it out - 5 free songs every Monday! Here's one of my favourites... Asobi Seksu - Perfectly Crystal (Beach Fossils/ Spirit Animal Remix).



And also a bit of what I'm listening to at the moment. Old or new, liking right now!

Artists: The Naked And Famous, Arcade Fire, Marina and the Diamonds, Freelance Whales, Adele, Jem, Metronomy, Two Door Cinema Club, The National, Blood Red Shoes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ra Ra Riot, Hurts, The Temper Trap, Band Of Skulls.

Sunday 17 July 2011

Outfit | RGB


Wore this today as we went into town to get coffee and check out an exhibition at SOTA. I've seen a lot of red, green and blue lately and it's inspired me to put this look together. I think the colour combination is great and I'm really into the earthy colours at the moment. I'm wearing my new Journal Standard shirt from Tokyo, Uniqlo top and pants, and shoes also from Tokyo.

Saturday 16 July 2011

Kiwi Short

So the next Harry Potter is out now and I'm really in no hurry to accompany James to the movies. I sometimes wish I was more of a movie-goer but also glad that I'm not. I have a very short attention span and it's most obvious when it comes to watching movies. The last time I went to the cinema was last year when I went with James to a late night screening of the last Harry Potter movie and about half an hour into it, I fell asleep. For some reason, quite often my mind just switches off after about 5 minutes, or at least my mind starts wandering and I start thinking about everything else except what is happening on screen. 

There are however some films that I do enjoy and they are mostly slower-moving ones such as Lost In Translation and Somewhere, the ones where you don't necessarily have to pay full attention to, but can still know what's going on even if it's just playing in the background. And then there are of course short films that I have no problem with watching. 

I happened to see Taika Waititi on BBC news one night while we were in Tokyo and it reminded me of a short film he directed called "Two Cars, One Night." I thought I'd share this short  as I think it's really well done and is one of my favourites.  Shot outside a rural pub on the East Coast of New Zealand, it's about a boy and a girl who find love in a carpark while waiting for their parents - it's simply beautiful, funny, cute, and is true kiwi style!


Friday 15 July 2011

Outfit | Black White Grey


We went out to Prego, an Italian restaurant for dinner tonight with a couple of our Japanese friends who've been in Singapore this week. Was a great night, some tasty food and wine, great coffee and we discussed a couple of exciting projects that will keep me busy for the next while. I'm wearing a Gap shirt, self-made pants, Uniqlo belt, bag from Taipei, watch and shoes from Tokyo. I've had this small-collared cotton shirt for awhile now and I think it's perfect for Singapore weather. It's white, it's light, can be dressed up or down, and is great to throw on and mix and match when I don't know what to wear!

Thursday 14 July 2011

Picture Perfect



Source: Various Tumblrs