What do you wear to the races? My typical outfit for the races would definitely include a fascinator, paired with a glamorous dress and stilettos. In fact, I have a growing collection of dresses and fascinators reserved for such special occasions. 

You may have read about my previous experiences at Singapore Turf Club, but what I wore for the Singapore Airlines International Cup & Krisflyer International Sprint 2014 was probably one of the most dramatic ensembles that I have put together to date.

Hairstyling c/o Naoki Yoshihara by Ash

Dress from Dustbunny Vintage

Fascinator from Eskpade

Shoes from Jimmy Choo

Clutch from Forever New

I love black and white dresses, but for special occasions, I generally prefer bolder, more striking colours as I finally have an excuse to let my creative juices run wild without anyone batting an eyelid. I also prefer vintage dresses for special occasions as the designs are unique and one-of-a-kind, which means that the probability of me running into someone else in the same dress is virtually zero. 

Many thanks to Jessie once again for inviting me to the SIA International Cup. I had an enjoyable day catching up with friends over a little bubbly and light bites amidst all the adrenalin pumping horse-racing action.

The races only began in the evening but the heavy downpour in the late afternoon proved to be a challenge, which made every race all the more exciting. 

Due to the weather, we had a tough time deciding on which horses to place our bets on. With a prize money of S$3 million, the race attracts some of the best horses from all over the world. This time, as some of the hot favourites were probably at a disadvantage due to the wet terrain, the dark horses were given the opportunity to shine and clinch the top spots.

Congratulations to the grand winner from Hong Kong!

 Karen and I also enjoyed a
few minutes of fame on the big screen just as we were basking in the
thrill and excitement of the races. We were interviewed earlier that
afternoon and this came as a pleasant surprise. JW, who attended the
event with me, whipped out his camera in the nick of time. 

If you have been following my blog for a while, you would probably have read about my positive experience with Dr Dylan Chau from CeleVenus Wellness & Aesthetic Clinic for non-invasive aesthetic procedures. 

This time, I was introduced to Sculptra, the first anti-aging facial injectable that gives you subtle results over time. Unlike fillers, it is not a quick fix and results are not immediate, but it is long-lasting and promises a more natural appearance without giving you away, which is what we all want at the end of the day isn’t it? 
 
I have had dark eye circles for as long as I can remember, but they look far worse when accompanied by sunken under eye hollows (otherwise known as tear troughs) which only deepen with age. While there is little that can be done to eradicate dark eye circles for good, you can however get rid of your sunken tear troughs with non-invasive aesthetic procedures like Sculptra. 

What is Sculptra?

The loss of collagen is the main cause of facial ageing, which leads to deeper lines and more sunken eyes. Made from Poly-L-lactic acid, Sculptra targets the root of the problem by replacing lost collagen over time. Poly-L-lactic acid is gradually and naturally absorbed into the body, and has been used in dissolvable stitches and as a facial injectable since 1999 in over 30 countries.

It starts to work within the deep dermis and as Sculptra replaces your skin’s lost collagen, the reinforced collagen structure forms the foundation that gradually plumps up wrinkles, folds and sunken areas to restore the look of fullness.    

How does Sculptra work?

In general, Sculptra is not meant to be injected into the eye and lip areas.How does it correct under eye hollows or tear troughs then? It is injected into the upper cheekbone area to plump up the skin, which in turn corrects the hollowness in the tear trough area. 

 This is the key reason why you should engage an experienced aesthetic doctor who knows the dos and don’ts of the Sculptra procedure at the back of his hands.  

Dr Dylan Chau is a Sculptra Trainer for doctors in Singapore and is one of the pioneers in Sculptra procedures since its launch in Singapore. Dr Chau’s qualifications, coupled with the fact that he has an eye for aesthetics, assured me that I would be in good hands.

Sculptra requires a series of 3-4 treatments spaced a month apart as time is needed for your skin to generate collagen. It is also important to administer injections in small dosages to achieve the best results.

Does it hurt?

Numbing cream is typically applied for about 20-30 minutes prior to the procedure. There was some discomfort during the injection but it wasn’t particularly painful for me.   

Numbing cream application prior to Sculptra Injection

How long does it last? Is there any downtime?
It can last for more than 2 years, but as with all aesthetic procedures, individual results may vary.  

What can you expect immediately after Sculptra? Is there any downtime? 
 There is no downtime. However, I experienced slight redness and a little bruising after my first session, but I hardly had any bruising after my second session. In any case, all you need is a dab of concealer to cover up any imperfections.

Here are some pictures of me before Sculptra to give you a better idea of how sunken my tear troughs look. 

Sunken tear troughs (without makeup) before Sculptra Injection

Sunken tear troughs (with make-up) before Sculptra

Plumped up under eye area immediately after Sculptra Injection

  
At the end of 1 week, you will probably notice that the initial fullness around the tear trough area would have disappeared. This is normal, as the Poly-L-lactic acid is gradually absorbed into the body and your body starts to generate collagen to plump up the sunken area.

Here’s a photo of me taken 1 month after my second session of Sculptra. Don’t you agree that I look more awake and less tired (even without my eyelash extensions)? What I love most about the treatment is that I no longer have to apply thick layers of make-up to conceal my dark eye circles. Now, all I need is 1 light layer of concealer, which translates to extra time savings for me!

CeleVenus Wellness & Aesthetic Clinic

Address: 
391B Orchard Road
#16-03/04 Ngee Ann City Tower B
Singapore 238874

Tel: 
+65 6410 9621 / +65 6410 9622
 

Email: 
beauty@celevenus.com.sg

Website:
http://www.celevenus.com.sg/ 

If you were to ask me to name one make-up item that I can’t live without, my answer would be eyeliner. I have been wearing classic winged eyeliner for years, and I can’t wait to get hold of the newly launched Maybelline Hypersharp Wing Liner.

I typically use pencil eyeliners as most liquid eyeliners are either too thin or too thick for my eyes and they smudge really easily too. Maybelline Hypersharp Wing Liner promises cleaner, more precise lines and comes with a duo thickness brush that allows you to vary the thickness of your eyeliner depending on the occasion. 

The duo thickness flat tip brush measures 0.01mm on one side for thin strokes and can go up to 2mm for thicker lines. All you have to do is twist the pen to adjust the thickness. Plus, it is 100% water-proof and highly pigmented, which means your eyeliner stays put for 24 hours.

Watch the video below to see how you can easily switch between thick and thin lines with the flick of your wrist:

 Crop top, pleated pants and blazer from Love Bonito

Shoes from Valentino

Bag from Givenchy

Cuff from Hermes

Shades from Marc by Marc Jacobs

 Thanks for reading and have a great weekend ahead!

A new year calls for a new hair sponsor, except that Jeric Salon is no stranger to me, given that I have had my hair done at the salon on several occasions previously. I’ve had some of the most flattering haircuts and hair colours by Director Michelle Soh, hence I knew for sure that I would be in good hands.

If you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you would have seen my latest perm done by Michelle just a couple of days ago. I will share more details about that separately. 

Before my recent perm, Michelle gave me a trim and a fresh coat of colour to welcome the new year. I love how the colour looks ash brown indoors or under minimal light and golden brown under sunlight or stronger light. It adds movement and dimension to my hair without going over the top. Most importantly, the final look is fuss-free, stylish yet work appropriate, exactly what I need.

 

As I colour my hair frequently, I prefer hair dyes that are derived from natural sources instead of petrochemicals that dry out my hair and pose risks to my health. 

If you are like me, you will be happy to know that Jeric Salon uses Aveda products which are formulated from plants, non-petroleum minerals and water. It is also free from parabens, nitro dyes and animal-derived ingredients. 

Thanks to Michelle and Jeric Salon for giving me beautiful, lustrous and healthy hair! 

Remember to book your appointments early for Chinese New Year (there’s no surcharge!) as slots are filling up fast.

Even if you can’t take that island vacation now, wearing tropical prints
can put you in a vacation mood. Well, at least it works for me, which is why
this adorable flamingo and palm tree printed blouse caught my eye. Pair it with
skinny pants and a pair of loafers, and you’re all ready for the weekend.

Dating back to as early as the Middle Ages, brocade fabric was one of
the few luxury fabrics worn by nobility in Greece, China, Japan, Korea and the
Byzantium empire. Brocade print is lush and sexy in itself, but as a crop top,
brocade’s sexiness factor skyrockets. For this top from MDS, I’d pair it with
high-waist flare trousers and throw on a crisp blazer for work, or a flare
skirt for a lunch date.

 

 I love rain showers because of their massaging effect and was absolutely delighted to find a walk-in rain shower in the bathroom.

During my stay on both occasions, I had access to the Executive Lounge, where I was treated to a tantalizing selection of canapés and drinks every evening at 5.30pm. If you prefer a little more privacy, you could also choose to have your breakfast here instead.

If you prefer
complete privacy, you can always turn to room service for breakfast,
like I did. All you have to do is fill up the order form behind the door
and state what time you would like your breakfast to be delivered. Hang
your order form outside the door the night before and your breakfast
will magically appear at your doorstep the very next morning!  

Feeling peckish after a meeting? For a quick snack or coffee fix any time during the day, you could head to The Food Store at the hotel lobby. Over here, you will find a delectable array of savoury sandwiches and pastries. If you have a sweet tooth, you can satisfy your sugar cravings with some cakes and ice-cream too. In fact, during my stay at the hotel, I got so addicted to DoubleTree’s signature chocolate chip cookies that I decided to pick up a tin to take home with me.

Makan Kitchen on the other hand, is an all-day dining restaurant that serves an international buffet spread including famous local specialties. Enjoy western and Asian delights during breakfast and a variety of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan dishes at lunch or dinner. 

The noodle soup station was my personal favourite as a bowl of warm soup and kway teow is my idea of comfort food. Simple, yet satisfying.

  

For those of you who prefer a party of flavours, you could check out the barbecued meats, fresh seafood and huge assortment of curries before ending the meal on a sweet note with their exquisite selection of desserts and sweets .

Tosca, an Italian restaurant located on the 13th floor of the hotel, is my favourite restaurant in the establishment. The cod fish is my top pick as the fish skin is perfectly crisp while the flesh is moist and tender. 

Fitness junkies will also love the 24-hour gym that offers a splendid view of the outdoor swimming pool. Both facilities are located beside Tosca on the 13th floor. The hotel is also equipped with male and female steam rooms and jacuzzis, perfect for relaxing on a hot and humid afternoon.

What did we like about DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru?

The location of the hotel is perfect for sight-seeing, shopping and cafe-hopping. JW and I had the opportunity to explore Johor Bahru by foot, which was a whole new experience for us as there were pleasant surprises in every alley and that led us to uncover some hidden gems along the way.  

We both agreed that the warm, personable service was one of the key draws of the hotel, and the signature Chocolate Chip Cookies that we received upon arrival added a nice touch too. This, coupled with the luxurious amenities, made us feel absolutely pampered in this home away from home. If you are planning a short get-away to Johor Bahru, you can rest assured that DoubleTree by Hilton will not disappoint.

If you’re interested in the places that we visited, do keep your eyes peeled for my next post on Johor Bahru!

Before the year of the horse officially comes to a close, I thought I’d take the opportunity to channel equestrian chic with a preppy vintage ensemble and my little unicorn clutch. I particularly adore the perfect mix of girlish
allure and preppy charm embodied in this outfit. It’s feminine without
being saccharine sweet and tomboyish without being masculine.

I actually packed
this outfit for my Hong Kong trip in December, but for some reason, it
never saw the light of day during my vacation. I would have gone ahead and put on some over-the-knee boots to complete the look if not for the fact that our weather in Singapore doesn’t quite allow for it. There’s a fine line between dressing up and overdressing and as much as I love my boots, I wasn’t prepared for strange stares and beads of perspiration.

 Instead, I slipped into my Valentino Noir Rockstud Pumps, my current go-to shoes, to add a touch of edginess to the overall look. It may not look it, but these shoes are really comfy despite the height. Now, I’m determined to get the nude version when it’s relaunched (I heard there’s a possibility some time next season!).

Hat from Forever New

Shoes from Valentino

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Fashion Fridays! If there’s a certain style or look that you would like to see here, drop me a comment or e-mail me at regina.chow@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can do to make it happen.

I have been incorporating more basic pieces into my wardrobe recently because they’re so wearable and will never go out of style. Everyone needs these wardrobe essentials and I couldn’t be happier when I discovered that Luca Ruca‘s collection offers just that – classic pieces with a twist that you can wear again and again without looking dated. 

Luca Ruca is headed up by two fashion savvy European designers, Anastasia Buchinskaya and Belinda Alice Jacobs, both of whom have worked for big names in the fashion industry, including Versace, Red Valentino, Vogue Italia, Matthew Williamson, John Rocha and Ted Baker.  

What struck me most about Luca Ruca is that their designs exude an air of sophistication and quiet confidence. Today, I am going to share with you two of my favourite pieces from their collection.

Basic dresses such as this Dazed Side-Knot Dress are a breeze to style. Slip into a pair of loafers for a casual weekend look or dress it up with red accents in the form of a pair of heels and leather cuff like what I did here. I couldn’t resist adding a whimsical unicorn clutch to keep the overall look casual chic, but you can always choose to amp up the glam factor with a luxe purse.

 Dress from Luca Ruca

Shoes from Zara

Cuff from Hermes

Bag from Taobao

I don’t know if you noticed, but I actually wore this dress differently from the model below. Instead of tying the knot on the left, I decided to tie it on the right instead. And there you have it, with this cute little striped number, you can achieve two different looks with just one dress! Rules are meant to be broken sometimes and it’s perfectly fine to set your own rules and let your creative juices flow.

The Granite Twist Top is yet another versatile piece from Luca Ruca’s latest collection. Again, you can choose to dress it up or down depending on the occasion. I’ve worn this with ripped jeans for a casual, edgy look, but did you know that you could style it with a pencil skirt for work as well?

What I love most about this timeless top is the unique twist details at the shoulders and its cotton/lycra mix material, which gives it a more structured silhouette. 

Simple accessories would do the trick here. I completed the look with a classic diamonte Chanel brooch and Valentino Noir Rockstud pumps.

Top from Luca Ruca

Bag from Givenchy

Pumps from Valentino

Brooch from Chanel

 If you need more styling inspirations, here are some pictures from Luca Ruca’s lookbook, photographed in New York City. This gorgeous top comes in a vibrant Mango shade as well, so if you’re looking at injecting some colour into your wardrobe, that would be an excellent choice.

 

All my lovely readers will also be entitled to a 20% discount from now till 31st Jan. All you have to do is to key in the code “LucaRucaXmas” upon checkout.

 Happy Shopping ladies!

Those of you who shop online may already be familiar with websites such as net-a-porter, shopbop and mytheresa. These are some of my favourite online stores for luxury designer brands as they stock the latest collections at slightly lower price-points than what you would get at brick-and-mortar stores.

These stores are great if you’re on the lookout for classic designs or products from the designers’ current season. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I get so busy that I end up missing out on highly coveted seasonal items. I personally don’t mind past season collections as well, and even better if they come at a steep markdown. 

The Outnet

That’s where The Outnet comes into the picture. The Outnet is my idea of factory outlet shopping from the comfort of your home. A pretty amazing idea, isn’t it? .

Did you know that The Outnet is actually the sister website of net-a-porter and it belongs to the same parent company?  There’s no need to worry about product authenticity and the best part is, you can now snag designer labels at factory outlet prices!

Needless to say, I was completely swept off my feet when I first stumbled upon The Outnet 2 years ago. Granted, sizes can be limited (or they may sell out really quickly!) for the more popular designs, but it isn’t difficult to find good deals. After all, everything is at least 40-50% off regular prices!

Here’s what I bought from The Outnet recently:

I adore Charlotte Olympia’s designs and when I saw this Capri Cats rubber slippers, I had to buy not just 1, but 3 pairs (the other 2 were for friends)!  At 55% off, it is almost a no-brainer. Plus, these rain-proof shoes are just perfect for the rainy weather these days.

Brian Lichtenberg never fails to put a smile on my face with his line of humorous parody t-shirts. I have seen these t-shirts on other websites retailing for over S$100, so you can imagine my delight when I saw the Homies (parody of Hermes) t-shirt in my size at just S$41! The material is so soft and comfortable, I can foresee myself wearing this t-shirt to death.

Here’re a few other items that I am eyeing at the moment:

Considering that my favourite Frame Denim jeans costs more than this pair of Saint Laurent ones, I have to say that this wardrobe staple is an absolute steal! The cutting looks great too.

 

I bought a pair of leather over-the-knee boots from Zara for about S$300, but over at The Outnet, you can get a pair of Guiseppe Zanotti leather knee boots (with heels too!) at S$488. Not exactly cheap, but if you were to compare it to my Zara ones, I would say this gives more bang for buck.

I’ve always liked T by Alexander Wang for its basic wardrobe pieces with a twist. This dress may look simple in front but it has an open-back that adds an element of surprise. Love it! Alas, unfortunately for me and fortunately for my wallet, they’re out of my size.

Here’s yet another interesting interpretation of a basic tank by T by Alexander Wang. I love how their designs will always stand the test of time. And at 65% off, it is pretty tempting! 

I know, Christmas is over, but indulge me just this once please? These whimsical holly suede and patent leather flats by Charlotte Olympia have been around for a while, but now, they finally have it in my size! 

I love versatile, easy-to-match leather shoulder bags such as this one by Tory Burch, especially when it is priced at 50% off regular price.

International Shipping  

 

Express shipping to Singapore costs £16.50, which is relatively reasonable if you were to share the cost with a few like-minded girlfriends/boyfriends. 

On a brighter note, your items will only take 4-5 days to arrive at your doorstep! In fact, based on previous experience, they usually arrive in about 3 days.

New Arrivals Thrice A Week

 

With new arrivals in-store every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice. 

And don’t say I didn’t warn you, fastest fingers first! All the popular sizes get snapped up really quickly, so be sure to sign up on the mailing list to receive the latest updates!

Happy Shopping!