Effortlessly chic. That’s how I would describe Song Hye Kyo’s style in Descendants of the Sun. Her wardrobe staples include easy to wear pieces such as breezy shirts, light linen shorts, A-line skirts and casual t-shirt dresses. If you’re interested to find out more about the outfits, bags and accessories that the Korean star wore, you can check out my previous post here.

Perhaps I was subconsciously influenced by her style because when I threw on this minimalist jacket set, my hubby immediately exclaimed “That looks like something from Descendants of the Sun!”. I was in total disbelief till I looked in the mirror and even then, I still thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

So anyway, to cut a long story short, this confirms that while we may not look like Song Hye Kyo, we can certainly replicate her easy breezy summer style (and hopefully steal the heart of someone like Song Joong Ki)! The oversized BF jacket looks similar to what Song Hye Kyo wore when she first arrived in Uruk.  I am all for jacket
sets as you can break them up and wear each piece separately. Plus, the minimalist aesthetic ensures that you get plenty of mileage.

 My only regret –  I wasn’t able to complete the look with the Singapore Air Show as my backdrop. Just kidding. Give me Nanjing’s Laomendong district any day. Not only does it look photogenic, you’ll also find quaint little shops and cafes at every turn. I had fun exploring and adding touches of modernity to the ancient Chinese architecture with this outfit.

Singapore brand Pleatation first caught my eye at Fashion Steps Out@Orchard in 2015. The gorgeous pleats and flowy silhouettes were hard to miss. Timeless, effortlessly chic yet gracefully feminine, what’s there not to love about this homegrown label?

This all-in-one dress is versatility personified. Dress it up with heels or dress it down with sandals or flats. Either way, you’ll be sure to draw stares wherever you go with that sexy backless design. Don’t even get me started on the variety of looks that you can create with just one dress. I counted, and wow you can actually get 10 amazing looks! Simply tie the strings in a different way and voila, a fresh new look is born. Take a look at the instructional video at the end for details.

Sounds like the perfect dress for traveling too, isn’t it? I packed this with me for a weekend trip to the city of Nanjing. Temperatures were soaring and I knew this silky number was just what I needed to paint the town red without breaking into a sweat. It worked like a charm and I had an amazing time flying the Singapore flag in a foreign land.

If you love pleats, you’ll be happy to know that besides dresses, Pleatation also specializes in pleated stationery, home and lifestyle products. Pleats are timeless in my opinion, and coincidentally, they happen to be a major trend this year too. So yes, don’t you think it’s about time to “compleat” your wardrobe with this lovely pleated dress?

In other news, I’ll be back in Singapore soon, so do drop me an e-mail for collaborations!

 

I did a vintage photo shoot recently with an Old Shanghai theme and I really love how it turned out.

Where? Where else, China of course. If you’re traveling to China and you love having your photos taken, this is an enjoyable and relatively inexpensive activity (if you pick the most basic package) that you can add to your bucket list. Be prepared to draw lots of oohs and ahhs from all your friends and family when they see your photos!

There are two spots where you can do this in Nanjing:
1) Laomendong; and
2) Nanjing Museum

Nostalgic Photo Studio at Laomendong, Nanjing

 

Both attractions have a vintage photography studio. You can be a cheapie like me and just go for the most basic studio photoshoot package where you’ll get 1 hard copy of a photograph similar to the ones above for 70 yuan or about S$15 (inclusive of a simple hairdo, accessories, clothes and professional lighting equipment). You are also allowed to take your own photos in the shop, so be sure to bring along your own camera too.These are some photos taken by my hubby:

Waiting to elope with my secret lover

 

Laomendong, Nanjing (China)

If you prefer the full works, you can opt for the most comprehensive package which includes an elaborate vintage hairstyle, make-up and several backdrops and poses. You’ll get to keep an album of photos too. This would set you back by 1680 yuan or about S$350.

 

The full works

These photos give you a flavour of what the backdrops look like. On hindsight, I should have styled my hair in the series of photos below to match the gorgeous Old Shanghai setting in Nanjing Museum. With the right makeup, hairdo and backdrop (plus some editing), anyone can transform into an upper class woman of leisure sipping tea in a retro tea house or a cute schoolgirl waiting to elope with her secret lover. 

Retro tea house in Nanjing Museum

Cinema from a bygone era at Nanjing Museum

Streets of Old Shanghai at Nanjing Museum

If you prefer the DIY route, it is possible to ace this shoot with your Instagram boyfriend or husband by wearing your own cheongsam, styling your hair yourself (check out tutorials on pinterest & youtube) and bringing your own props.It’s a really fun way to spend an afternoon and you can expect the end results to be nothing short of spectacular!

Have you decided on where to take your mum this coming Mother’s Day? If you’re still cracking your brains as to where you could possibly go, why not take mummy dearest to Mondo Vantaggio for shopping and tea this weekend!Located just off Orchard Road on the second level of Furama Riverfront hotel, Mondo Vantaggio is a new multi-label luxury store spanning 13,000 feet that offers designer labels at competitive prices. A welcome respite for retail therapy amidst the city bustle, you’ll find over 40 high-end designer labels including Gucci, Prada, Balenciaga, Burberry, among others in the lavishly designed store. Aside from leather goods and bags, it also stocks an exclusive selection of ready-to-wear apparel and shoes.

The issue of authenticity always comes to mind when shopping for designer goods, and I love that I can shop at Mondo Vantaggio with complete peace of mind as it has a refund policy where customers can receive a full refund on returned purchases in their original condition within seven days of purchase. I have every intention to feast my eyes on the new arrivals every fortnight!

This weekend (7-8 May), in conjunction with Mother’s Day, Mondo Vantaggio will be hosting a tea party for you and your mum.

Not only is it the perfect time to pamper your mum with a gift or two as there is a 30% discount store wide (lowest price guaranteed during this promotional sales period), both of you will also get to indulge in a complimentary afternoon tea session at their in-house cafe run by popular cafe, The Tiramisu Hero.

Date: 

7-8 May (Saturday & Sunday)

Venue:

Mondo Vantaggio

Furama Riverfront Hotel

#02-01

Time:

2pm – 5pm

To attend this event (you can also come with your hubby or girlfriend instead!), all you have to do is to click here to RSVP on Mondo Vantaggio’s  Facebook Page now!

Walk-in customers who decide to pop by without RSVP will have to spend a minimum of $300 to join in the tea party.

I will be there on 7th May at 4pm, so do come by and say hi!

See you there!

After hearing all the hype about Korean drama “Descendants of the Sun”, I finally decided to hop onto the bandwagon along with an army of addicts, purely out of curiosity. Did I like it? Well yes, being a military wife, I definitely found the storyline relatable, but what left an even deeper impression on me was Song Hye Kyo’s (or Kang Mo Yeon, as she is known in the series) simple yet elegant style, which brings me to the objective of writing today’s post.

 So yes, without further ado, let me share some of my favourite style/beauty moments in the series and more importantly, where you can actually find these products.

 It is no secret that Song Hye Kyo is the brand ambassador for Laneige, hence the beauty products used to achieve her flawless skin and rosy lips include:

I’ve used this previously courtesy of Laneige and I was impressed by how buildable the coverage is, not to mention the dewy finish causes light to literally bounce off my skin, making my pigmentation look less obvious to the naked eye.

Laneige Two Tone Lip Bar

I have yet to try this myself but if I recall correctly, these were already flying off the shelves before the show became popular. I hope you can still find them in stores!

Shirts & Shirtdresses

Shirts are practically her wardrobe staple and it is not hard to see why. Song Hye Kyo transits from weekend casual chic to smart casual/semi-formal with absolute ease simply by changing from a pair of shorts to a feminine A-line skirt or putting on a shirt dress. These basic pieces will never go out of style and thus ensure that she is always on point.

 

Bottom – Washing Linen Blouse from Stylenanda (Shop HERE)

 

Printed Silk Crepe Mini Dress by Victoria Beckham (Shop HERE)

Bags

Song Hye Kyo generally goes for minimalist, functional bags in the series, such as this beautiful Symmetrical Bag from Celine and the Eco Shoulder Bag from J.Estina, a Korean jewelry and bag label that she was endorsing till January this year. 

Celine Symmetrical Bag (Shop HERE)

J. Estina Savvy Helio Eco Shoulder Bag

J. Estina Savvy Helio Eco Shoulder Bag (Shop HERE)

 Accessories, especially earrings, play an important role in adding the finishing touches to her outfits. Simple, minimalist earrings are paired with casual outfits while a touch of gemstones are the perfect accompaniment to her work ensembles. 

Earrings from J.Estina

J.Estina Oro Lia Helio Earring (Shop HERE)

DvF by H. Stern Collection (Shop HERE)

Shoes

Comfortable
footwear is a must in the fictitious country of Uruk, and although this
statement about comfortable footwear isn’t entirely true (didn’t you see
her running around the disaster zone in platform heels?!), I’m sure this beautiful pair of
perforated high-top sneakers struck a chord with you, just as it did
for me, because it’s now completely sold out!

Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons Perforated Leather Sneakers

I
have left my email address in the link below and asked to be notified
when the item is back in stock. Good things ought to be shared, so I’m
sharing the link with you too!

Junya Watanabe Commes Des Garcons Perforated Leather Sneakers (Shop HERE)

Now that the long weekend is here, it’s the best time to indulge in some retail therapy! Have you watched the series yet? If so, which of these products do you like best?

Don’t we all dream to be that woman who wakes up with messy bed hair but somehow still ends up looking effortlessly chic and sexy even with a simple white t-shirt and a pair of well-fitted jeans. The whole “I woke up like this” look is characteristic of the French woman who never tries too hard and always appears put together at all times. 

What is the secret to dressing like the French? Well, it’s actually very simple. The French woman loves basic pieces, and they have to be of good quality. She believes in investing in timeless pieces that she will get the most wear out of, which makes perfect sense. 

As you would know by now, minimalism is my cup of tea. The minimalist style, a classic style that makes dressing up a breeze for anyone, probably best describes the French woman.  T-shirt and jeans are great for summer, but when temperatures are cooler, a tailored shirt and black pants or overalls (like the one pictured here) are my go-to ensemble.

 Some of my favourite brands that do great simple basics include American Vintage, Majestic Filatures and Toupy, to name a few, all of which can be found at Rue Madame. 

 This
French fashion boutique houses many brands and each collection has a
distinctive Parisian flair to it. Not only do they have quality basics
at affordable prices, you can also find playful, vibrant, feminine
pieces that add a quirky touch to your wardrobe staples. I’m currently obsessed with boxy silhouettes and I have my eye on this two-tone cut-out sleeveless dress from Tara Jarmon.

Tara Jarmon Two-tone Cut-out Sleeveless Dress

The cut-out details at the side add an element of surprise to the clean, minimalist look. I love how sophisticated the collection is and the amazing thing about Rue Madame is that it only carries exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces that maintain a sense of individuality.

Rue Madame has recently launched their online store, which is so exciting especially since summer is just around the corner (fine, for Singaporeans, it’s summer all-year-round)! But yes, whatever the season is, check them out to get some Parisian inspiration and lovely festival wear with several boho, gypsy style brands that are all the rage right now!

Black, grey and neutral shades form the foundation for a minimalist wardrobe. I used to think neutral colours such as beige were boring, but I couldn’t be more wrong. 

Just as how grey comes in 50 shades (or more), beige too doesn’t disappoint where the colour wheel is concerned. I came across this simplified colour chart from fellow blogger Glam and City, and gosh, just look at how many neutral shades there are!

  It is amazing just how many looks you can pull off when you have a wardrobe filled with pieces in these colours. You’ll never look like a clown again, even if you decide to pick out an outfit with your eyes closed. 

Take this outfit that I put together over the weekend as an example. I paired my tan culottes with a nude top that came with choker-like details and an asymmetrical hem, not forgetting my trusty New Balance sneakers in beige. 

Not too shabby an ensemble isn’t it? The tonal contrast added dimension to the nude-on-nude outfit while the little details and tailored silhouettes amped up the style factor.

It is no secret now that I am a minimalist convert, and if you need more reasons to convince yourself to make the switch, perhaps you may wish to read my previous article on minimalism here:

Why I Adopted the Minimalist Style 

*****

 In other fashion news, one of Singapore’s largest fashion festival, Samsung Fashion Steps Out @ Orchard 2016 begins today! 

It is unfortunate that I can’t participate in this event as I am currently overseas, but if you are in Singapore right now, be sure to catch this six-week extravangaza that lasts till 8 May 2016.

Here’s what you can expect this year:

Star-studded Orchard Fashion Runway (26 March 2016)

Happening tomorrow, the biggest outdoor fashion show curated by Singapore’s fashion doyen Daniel Boey will be kicking off the fashion festival in style. As with previous years,  the stretch between Scotts Road and Bideford Road will be closed to traffic and transformed into Singapore’s longest fashion runway.

This is also the first time that an entourage of more than a dozen personalities, influencers and artistes from Singapore and around the region will join the Orchard Fashion Runway. They include JJ Lin [Singapore]; VJ Daniel [Indonesia];  Min Chen [Malaysia]; Laureen Uy [Philippines]; Aisyah Aziz [Singapore], Sheila Sim [Singapore], Hayley Woo [Singapore] and more!

Fashion labels to look out for at the runway show:

Fans of Asian pop icon Jay Chou will have something to look out for this year. PHANTACi, Jay Chou’s label, will be making its debut at the Orchard Fashion Runway. 

Raffles Privato, Thomas Wee and UNIQLO Lifewear are also participating for the very first time.

Fringe Activities (now till 8 May)

     

Adeline Khoo, Knit in the City [15 Apr – 8 May] at Wisma Atria, Atrium B1

Being able to truly experience the four seasons is one of the simple pleasures of life that I have come to appreciate in China, although I have to admit that I do miss the blazing sun on chilly days. I remember running towards the sea of red maple leaves at Hangzhou’s West Lake, catching a glimpse of the very last cherry blossom in Suzhou’s classical gardens before it withered, jumping out of bed at 7am in Nanjing just to catch the first snowfall, and now that Spring is upon us, I have been photographing flowers in bloom from every angle imaginable. The fleeting beauty of each natural phenomenon makes every moment more precious than it already is, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be able to reconnect with Mother Nature.Just a few days before I returned to Nanjing from Singapore, I read in the news that the plum blossoms in Nanjing have bloomed prematurely. Overwhelmed with excitement, we told our driver to take us to Plum Blossom Mountain for the annual plum blossom festival the day after we arrived.

An ocean of marshmallow pink and white greeted us along with throngs of visitors on an early weekday afternoon. The plum blossoms, also known as Nanjing’s national flowers, were in full bloom in end February, a rarity since they usually bloom in mid-March. Not unlike Japan’s cherry blossom season, we found visitors settling into their favourite spots, picnic baskets brimming with food in tow and just enjoying a leisurely afternoon with their loved ones. The plum blossoms danced to the rhythm of the wind, and when the sun cast its rays upon them, that was when their beauty came to life.

The beauty of photography lies in its ability to capture magical moments that bring back beautiful memories and today, I hope these moments captured in time will put a smile on your face as we take on another week ahead.

My sense of style has evolved dramatically over the years, and as I gradually approach my mid 30s, it is not uncommon to see me ditching cute lacy dresses in favour of a minimalist aesthetic that is not just age appropriate in comparison but also ranks higher in terms of versatility.

 

Why go minimalist?

The minimalist style is all about monochromatic shades of black, white, grey and neutrals, coupled with tailored cuts and modern silhouettes. More importantly, mixing and matching is a breeze and there are endless recipes for creating fresh new looks without having to constantly expand your wardrobe.

The minimalist style goes hand in hand with a minimalist wardrobe. So yes, there isn’t a need for a huge wardrobe to look presentable. Besides having more wardrobe space, I find that I am less restricted by fashion trends as this style is timeless. When you focus on quality instead of quantity, you will also get more mileage out of your wardrobe. Packing for trips, which used to be a time-consuming affair, now requires less time as my wardrobe is less cluttered and more organized.

How do I maintain a minimalist wardrobe?

In keeping with the minimalist style, whenever I come across something that I fancy these days, I’ll always ask myself these three questions:

“Will I still wear this 6 months or 1 year down the road?”

“Can I match this with at least 3-4 items in my wardrobe?”

“Can I rewear this a few times in a fortnight with different tops/bottoms/accessories without giving others the impression that I have no clothes to wear?”

These questions help me to stay focused when I shop and the likelihood of making an impulse buy is greatly diminished, much to the delight of my husband who is of the opinion that I already have more clothes than I would ever need in my lifetime.

Isn’t minimalism boring?

To be honest, this was exactly what I thought of minimalism when it first made headway in the world of fashion. How is it possible for anyone to look effortlessly chic by just putting together a few simple, basic wardrobe essentials? As cliche as this may sound, the beauty of minimalism lies in its simplicity. Simple does not equate to boring, and based on my personal experience, here are a few examples of how you can go about jazzing up the minimalist style.

1) Play with proportion

Think cropped tops paired with long skirts or culottes. You can choose to reveal just a sliver of skin to elongate your silhouette, or if you are feeling self-conscious after feasting during the festive season,  matching your cropped tops with high waist bottoms would do the trick just as well.

 It
is still possible to make a statement (without compromising on the
minimalist aesthetic) by adding a simple choker, a pair of reflective
sunglasses or edgy footwear to your outfit.

Not
a fan of accessorizing? Interesting silhouettes like an asymmetrical
hemline or off-shoulder/toga neckline will up your style quotient
instantly. I have worn this grey asymmetrical dress as a top paired with ripped jeans previously too. To amp up the glam factor, throw in a choker and put on some heels.

If
you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you might have found these
pictures familiar as these were the outfits that I packed for my recent
trip to Bangkok.For the record, I took about 20 minutes to pack everything that I needed for the 6-day trip! I guess it is not hard to see why I am such a fan of the minimalist style. What about you? Do you like this style too?

 Happy New Year! 

Being
away from home always makes me appreciate what I have back in Singapore. It makes me treasure family ties and friendship even more. Although I
am very much an introvert and am perfectly happy being alone (yes,
believe it or not, I can entertain myself without feeling bored most of
the time), it is comforting to return to warm hugs from friends and
family, as well as engage in free-flowing, no-holds-barred conversations
with these very same people whom I have known for decades. 

They
say familiarity breeds contempt, but if you delve deeper, the beauty of
familiarity lies in how it gives rise to close, intimate relationships
that are unfaltering and able to stand the test of time. I love how I
can be completely honest with close friends and family without having to
worry if anything I said has crossed the line, simply because there
aren’t any lines to begin with.

Needless to say, it gives me boundless joy to be able to bask in the company of my family and friends as we enjoy the new year festivities. It is also a relief to finally be able to head outdoors without all that extra weight on my shoulders (literally), having been bundled up in layers for many months in Nanjing thanks to winter. This lovely cut-out number hails from Forever New’s Kendall x Kylie Kardashian collection which was
released some months ago and is now completely sold out.I have been a fan of Australian label Forever New for many years now and would highly recommend them for work wear and evening wear. Their quality material, flawless workmanship and timeless designs never fail to impress. I was tempted
by more than just one design in this collection and I wish I had
followed my heart then

What about you?  What did you wear for Chinese New Year and what are some of your favourite labels? 

 Hope
you enjoyed the long new year weekend and here’s wishing everyone good
health, happiness and success in the year of the monkey! I am in the midst of packing for my next trip out of Singapore as you are reading this. I’m taking a short trip this time to the land of smiles and as it is, thinking about it is already making me smile from ear to ear.