Sunday, March 30, 2014

The Essential Question

(top: BKK | jacket: Fabfad | armcandy: left hand BKK // right hand Beadstreet | ring: Colette Hayman | sunnies: Victoria Jomo | shoes: Vans

I think my shirt pretty much sums it all up. The essential question that weighs on my mind every night of a weekday (Hey, I'm pretty sure other people are guilty of it too)-- what shall I wear tomorrow? I have to admit that this question takes up a much larger portion of my thinking time than do many other questions. I am obviously not the type of person who could pick out anything --even a potato sack-- and still look good in it, so this question comes across as particularly important to me.

I've been in a bit of a slump recently, which basically translates as: I am too lazy to get out of the house and all I want to do is laze around in my house wearing my oldest t-shirt, shorts, and glasses. with the air-conditioning switched on (the weather is blazing hot these days, and you would never catch me wearing a jacket like what I'm wearing in these photos now), a packet of cheesy Doritos in my arms as my only companion, and Empress Ki playing on my laptop screen. (There's just something about sageuks that makes me all swoony on the inside.) I'm sorry to say that I'm something of a slob. But thank goodness I have my daily office job to get me out of the house and into the actual world, where people no longer speak with honorifics, or carry large swords sheathed in gorgeous metal sheaths at their sides, or own gorgeous gold jewelry consisting of enamelled hairpins, filigree statement necklaces and chunky earrings, or wear long, billowing skirts of the most gorgeous jewel tones with gold embroidery.

A pity, the last two things on that list. Now as the clock inches toward striking midnight, please excuse me as I need to go sit in front of my wardrobe (newly packed! But still messy, somehow.) and ponder the essential question

xx

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Some Things Never Change

(top: BKK | pants: Uniqlo | necklace: Talisman's | shoes: Doctor Martens | socks: Citrusox | bag: BKK | armcandy: BKK | ring: red anchor ring Punkcandy // cat ring Colette Hayman | sunnies: Victoria Jomo)

It's been something of a rough week, but looking back at these photos made me feel better somehow. After graduation, we've barely had time to see each other, or even talk over messages, but meeting up always seems like a breath of fresh air. This long-awaited day (the day after Valentine's to be exact) began with a brunch-dessert at Wimbly Lu, where I think we may have weirded out the people sitting at the table in front of us with our choice of topics for discussion (we were seated at an extremely awkwardly positioned table that did not allow us to sit facing each other, but rather facing the table in front of us): Why the movie based on Frankenstein did not seem to follow that of the original novel and why the monster was hunky in the movie, whether or not Frankenstein's monster was meant to be hunky as per Frankenstein's usage of 'the best body parts', bemoaning the emphasis of the commonly misunderstood myth that the monster was called Frankenstein by the use of the movie title, and the fact that Mary Shelley would probably roll over in her grave to see this movie being produced; thereupon we moved onto Disney princes and their lack of hunky-ness (especially Prince Eric), whether the prince in Sleeping Beauty was called Philip or Alex (Philip, actually), and why Frozen seems to be lauded as the feminist movie of all times, yet is being trashed for being yet another movie moulded from traditional stereotypes. 

Blame it on the (ex- for me, at least) Lit lessons speaking through us. Or perhaps we can blame it on the sugar high from the Tiramisu, Hazelnut Butterscotch Bar, and the Blackout Cake. (All of which were perfection.) But then again, where would you ever find friends who would discuss such topics with you? 

Dinner saw me at Brook's, with another meaningful talk about life in the army, enlistment for females, and generally loud nonsense being proclaimed quite exuberantly in the middle of Art Friends, earning us a few disdainful stares and judging looks. But before that, we had such fun going to The Editor's Market and systemically working through all the racks, commenting on each article of clothing, be it good or bad. It's not everyday that you find friends who are able to do this with you; those of you who do this with your friends too will know what I mean. And while we will all eventually move on with our own individual lives, and the time taken to meet up and catch up with each other grows more scarce, may some things never change.

xx

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

90's Kid

(jacket: Fox | shoes: Doctor Martens | socks: Citrusox | bag: BKK | armcandy: BKK)
A true-blue 90s kid, in which my bulky jacket sleeves actually remind me of football players and all their padding. How many people remember the denim skirts worn around the ages of 5-7, the high socks worn throughout lower primary (and sometimes stretching to secondary school), the tiered mermaid skirts that were all the rage? It seems like the fads of the past are making a comeback, and what better way to embrace them than to dig out an old denim skirt from the depths of my cupboard? I believe I bought this skirt (grudgingly) for Chinese New Year almost 8 years back, and I could never bear to throw it away because I wore it a grand total of about two times. I'm glad it is serving its purpose now. Better late than never.  

But that aside. I was walking toward the train station yesterday after work when I looked up at the sky and realized that the world is beautiful. Well, not beautiful per se, but it's filled with beautiful things-- the clouds were layered upon each other, and you could see the exact different layers, each a different shade of grey/white/indistinguishable bluish-grey, and the sky was a myriad of brilliant blue and gloomy grey. I wanted to capture that scene forever, but somehow lack the skills to do so, be it on camera or drawings, so the picture will remain as it is, forever, in my mind. I'd been having a rather troubled weekend, so the sudden realization as I looked up at the sky and realized the brilliance of it all was a welcome breath of fresh air. I'm not too happy about the sudden downpours of rain that creep up so quickly it takes me by surprise every time-- I have plans for this week, and only so little time to execute them, so fingers crossed that the sky takes pity on me on those days. 
xx 

Friday, March 14, 2014

Bringing 60s Back

(skirt: Young Hungry Free | shoes: Doctor Martens | arm candy: four beaded bracelets Forever 21 // spiked necklace worn as bracelet Infinite Pixie // studded wristband BKK | ring: Stroberi)

So, if someone had suggested to me to buy a skirt that was longer than mid-thigh a few years back, my answer would have been a very definite no. What with the wind in Singapore right now, and an accumulation of lipids in the waist-butt-thigh area due to a lack of PE lessons and an increase in stress-snacking during the job, I find myself relying on my new midi skirt more than I should. Is it a crime to want to wear the skirt every single day of the week? In fact, I'm currently on the hunt for more skirts that end way below my knee.

I recently acquired a new camera (thanks mum and pa), which makes me giggle in delight because things just got real, as in, I'm going to take proper outfit shots with a proper camera now. Ok, so I'll ignore the fact that I don't actually have anybody to take them for me. Any volunteers?

It's been a bit of a hectic rush recently, what with university open houses and interviews (actually only one) and whatnot, but I guess this is all inevitable anyway. Til the next time, lovelies.
xx

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Preppy

(top: Uniqlo | skirt: In House Fashion | necklace: Lovisa | armcandy: Talisman's | ring: Talisman's | clutch: Bugis Street | shoes: Doctor Martens)

I've recently been on the hunt for tops with sleeves (realized that too much of my wardrobe involves sleeveless things and my flabby arms are screaming protest), more specifically boxy tops with sleeves that fall to the elbow, or perhaps a little shorter than that. When I first saw this shirt in Uniqlo, I gave it slightly more than a cursory glance, but dismissed it as I was too lazy to try it on. It kept niggling away at my mind though, so after an impulsive trip to another Uniqlo branch that I passed by a few days later, and an equally impulsive buy, I am happy to say that this shirt has made its way safely to my wardrobe. I've already worn it twice within the span of a month, which is pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.

The task of reinventing my wardrobe and recreating my style has always been an extremely tempting one, but nevertheless one that does not seem too possible in the near future-- I can't bear to throw away old clothes, even though I no longer fancy them, because there is always the 'but I may wear them again someday!'. We all know that 'someday' will most likely never come. In any case, having a job and a relatively decent pay for a student gives me the privilege of buying more things now with my own money, though somehow it is hardwired in my Asian frugal mentality that spending money is bad, while the other half of me is clamouring for that printed cutout top I saw yesterday, or that cute shift dress in the shop over there. 

xx Til the next time, lovelies. It's been so busy at the office these days that I barely have enough time for myself, and that time is spent rewatching my favourite Korean dramas. There will never be enough time to do everything I want, or maybe the lure of Korean dramas is just too great.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Spring Florals

(necklace: Lovisa | dress: Dressabelle | bracelet: Accessorize | rings: silver ring Lovisa // gold rose ring Stroberi // white rose ring Sasa | shoes: Rubi | bag: Miu Miu)

So, it seems like my long-time habit of dragging out posts has come back; this was meant to be posted for Chinese New Year, at least a month back. Still, please forgive me for the long absence-- this past week has been something like hell on earth, and I'm not even sure if it will be getting any worse tomorrow (just for the record, tomorrow is results collection day, something I've not been looking forward to at all). 

Chinese New Year seems like a time to be wearing red and all sorts of auspicious colours, but for the me of the past, it was a much dreaded occasion in which I could not wear my frequented colours of black (shirt) and black/denim (shorts). Those days are long over, but I don't find myself any closer to leaning toward the auspicious colour of bright red, so perhaps a little white dress with muted watercolour floral prints will do? It must have been something like love at first sight for this dress, when I saw it on the website, and I bought it almost immediately. The prints are too delicate and pretty, and so deliciously feminine. It also compounds my fear of dripping something on it and ruining it forever. I tend to do that to white things. Also, as some sort of disclaimer, the bag is my mother's, borrowed only for the purpose of photo taking. It was a complete coincidence that she happened to bring a white bag along.

Last Friday started off badly, but it turned out that my whining was something like a storm brewing in the tea cup because things only got much worse from then on. Many bad news, difficult choices, and overall angst. May this week be better, and may my white dress live a very long life in my wardrobe.
xx

PS, as a side note, You Who Came From The Stars just ended its broadcast this week, and I loved the show so much I had to draw something. I feel like if I started talking about it, my monologue would never end, so you'll just have to check the show out for yourself, because it is worth it.