I bought this blush pink dress from I.T. in Hong Kong a couple of years ago and it was only recently that I uncovered this hidden gem lying in the depths of my wardrobe. 

It was time to bring it out to let it sparkle.

Its vintage inspired Victorian design is made contemporary with pointy nude heels from Miu Miu and a splash of accessories from Korean label, Redeye. 

Where do I get my accessories? That’s one question that I often get from readers and friends alike, hence I decided I should share more about my latest craze, Redeye. I first came across the brand in Seoul, but I found out through a friend that they now have a branch in Johor Bahru at City Square Mall. I paid them a visit during my recent staycation and needless to say, went a little crazy over their accessories.  I especially love the statement pearl ring, which I personally think is a welcomed change from its more common pearl necklace counterpart.

 I’m definitely heading back to JB for more stylish yet affordable Korean accessories. The extensive collection ensures that you’re spoilt for choice, regardless of the final look that you’re aiming to achieve. If you’re heading to JB, remember to stop by Redeye! 

Accessories aside, the lovely Swan Lake Gazebo at the Botanic Gardens provided the perfect backdrop for this ensemble. I enjoy taking long walks in parks and I couldn’t be happier that the cooler temperatures of late has made this possible. 

 Nestled amidst lush greenery, the gazebo overlooks the swan lake near the entrance of the gardens. The gazebo represents a piece of history as it was built in the 1850s and was originally located at Old Admiralty House along Grange Road before it was shifted to the gardens. Historic structures like these are part of our cultural heritage and lend character to our concrete cityscape. I love the intricate details on the grilles of the gazebo and I wish that more of such architecture could be preserved in our country to allow the old and new to coexist in harmony.

The cape blazer design is also perfect for our humid weather. I hardly ever wear blazers in Singapore but I really like how the cape design keeps you warm when you step into an air-conditioned room while the slit sleeves help you to look and feel cool when you step outdoors under the blazing sun.

I’ve worn this cape blazer with a formal pencil dress for work, but for weekends, shorts are my staple. Of late, I find myself favouring shades of black, white and grey. I have also started to gravitate towards simple, minimalist pieces with clean lines. That was how I came up with this ensemble. A simple leatherette cropped top, a pair of embossed shorts and a cape blazer all in the same shade, accented with touches of gold. Sometimes, the beauty of an outfit lies in its simplicity and I’m surprised it took me so long to discover this.

And so, would I do it again? Yes, I would, in a heartbeat.

While it is difficult to imagine that slimming is one of my concerns, health, fitness and wellness are certainly areas that are close to my heart, especially as age catches up with me.  

Mary Chia is Singapore’s first home-grown lifestyle and wellness service provider to be publicly listed on the SGX-ST Catalist, and it now operates 8 outlets in Singapore, 6 outlets in Malaysia, with 3 unique spa concepts that cater to different demographics.  

Who’s suitable for this treatment?

This

treatment is generally suitable for anyone who wants to lose weight or
detox. However, if you have
health issues such as heart problems and high blood pressure, or if you
are pregnant, you may wish to seek professional medical advice before
embarking on this treatment.
 

  I will be giving you a step-by-step run-through of the treatment to give you a better understanding of what to expect. Read on to find out more.

This is perhaps the most important step in the treatment because a thorough analysis and personalized consultation gives the consultant a better understanding of your body and health condition, allowing her to customize the programme to optimize its effectiveness. Based on this assessment, the consultant would also be able to better advice you on the number of sessions required to achieve your desired results.

I have always been underweight because of my small bone structure (trust me, I do eat and my husband claims I eat more than him!), thus the consultant shared that I could consider doing the treatment just once a month for detox and overall wellness.

The vibration bed heated up instantly to about 40 degrees Celsius and a series of vibrations ran through the entire bed. 

I could feel my body rocking from side to side as I began to work up a sweat. Did you know that 15 minutes on this vibration bed is equivalent to 45 minutes of rigorous exercise? If exercise is not your cup of tea, this vibration bed is probably just what you need.

Even if you exercise regularly, there are times when you sustain injuries. For instance, I suffered a back injury recently and had to stay off my yoga mat for a period of time. This vibration bed serves as an ideal substitute for exercise in such situations as the vibrations and rocking motions are gentle enough to prevent further injury while you reap the same benefits of exercising. In fact, I was told that many elderly clients who have difficulties moving about get their dose of exercise through this low impact vibration bed too.

Besides providing an alternative
to exercise, the vibration bed also promotes lymphatic drainage, which
is great for detox, relieving water retention and weight loss.

My verdict? It definitely felt like a good workout and I really liked the massaging effect on my back as well. 

For those of you who are interested in weight loss, you’ll be happy to know that you can lose approximately 500g – 2kg after each session, while you are lying comfortably on the vibration bed. It actually felt so comfortable that I dozed off after a while.

Step 3: Sauna

Right after wiping off beads of perspiration from my “workout” on the vibration bed, I was led to the sauna for another 15 minutes. Despite the heat (around 45 degrees Celsius), it was a  relaxing experience as I was given some magazines to while my time away, which I thought was a very thoughtful gesture.

The sauna provides physical rejuvenation and improves blood circulation, refreshing the mind and body while sealing in slimming benefits to achieve a svelte figure. 

Step 4: Air-Pressure Slimmer

The Air-Pressure Slimmer is yet another interesting device that promotes lymphatic drainage and improves blood circulation. Targeted at the waist and stomach area, an inflatable strap is wrapped around your stomach.

The strap inflates gradually at first, tightening its grip on your tummy before it deflates and completely releases its hold. This process continues for approximately 15 minutes.

Step 5: Full Body Wrap

Finally, the treatment concludes with a full body wrap, where the consultant uses a large roll of cling film to tightly wrap around my body. The full body wrap firms up your skin while you continue to perspire and the effect is akin to that of wearing shape wear or compression garments. 

 As you are required to wear this body wrap for around 2 hours, it would be best to wear long sleeves and long pants for the treatment. 

Step 6: Treatment Feedback

At the end of the treatment, I was offered a glass of tea to replenish the fluids that I lost. My consultant also came by to seek my feedback on the treatment and answer any additional queries that I may have. I appreciated her attention to detail and personalized service, which added a nice touch to the overall experience.

How did I feel after the treatment?  

When I first arrived at Mary Chia, I was feeling rather lethargic as I had just returned from Maldives on a red-eye flight that very day but after the treatment, I felt completely refreshed and re-energized. 

My skin was glowing and I felt the same rush of adrenalin that I would usually get from hot yoga, except that the nature of this treatment was of a much lower intensity than exercise. I would actually consider doing this on a monthly basis for detox.   

For more details on the treatment and Mary Chia’s full suite of slimming and beauty services, do visit their website here.

Yes, I love Maldives, but I love shopping too.

I thought about it. Sometimes, it is the flower which has an oddly-coloured petal among the others that also makes it interesting. 

In any case, health and fitness is part and parcel of looking good and feeling great, which really isn’t that far off from what my fashion and beauty posts aim to achieve, isn’t it?