Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty & Travel Blog
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Fashion
Travel
Beauty
Lifestyle
Personal Thoughts
Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty & Travel Blog
  • About Me
  • Fashion
  • Travel
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  • Lifestyle
  • Personal Thoughts
Fashion

Channeling Song Hye Kyo’s Casual Chic Style in Descendants of the Sun

June 22, 2016 by Regina Chow No Comments
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.
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Fashion

Fashion: Why I Adopted the Minimalist Style

March 1, 2016 by Regina Chow No Comments

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.

Reveal just a sliver of skin to elongate your silhouette (Top: Cotton On // Skirt:Topshop // Bag: Givenchy)

 

(Top: Bershka // Culottes: H&M)
2) Add interest to your outfit with accessories/footwear
 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.
Complete your outfit with edgy footwear to make a statement (Choker: Tiffany // Sandals: Editor’s Market)

 

(Dress: H&M // Sunnies: Egg, HK brand // Shoes: Adidas)

 

 3) Pick interesting silhouettes
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.
(Dress: Editor’s Market)
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?

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Fashion

Fashion: SheIn Christmas Gift Ideas

December 20, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments
We are just days away from Christmas. Time flies, doesn’t it? Have you completed your Christmas shopping yet? Well, even if you haven’t, fret not, because last minute shopping, especially with retailers such as SheIn, can be just as rewarding, if not more, thanks to their Christmas sale!
In collaboration with SheIn, I have put together a Christmas gift guide comprising some of my favourite minimalist pieces from their winter collection. These classic picks are great for the upcoming festivities and also double up as wardrobe workhorses. Looking stylish while braving the cold isn’t such a tall order after all, and the best part is, you know your girlfriends will thank you for it. 

1. Long Coats

  I have come to realize that one of the best ways to avoid looking like a dumpling during winter is to “break up” your silhouette to create curves. Hence, my first pick is this long grey coat that drops all the way down to my shins because it allows you to do just that and keep warm at the same time. If your goal is to shake up your girlfriend’s wardrobe, this is the gift for her.

Link: Grey Long Sleeve Notch Lapel Coat (US$42.99)
How do you break up a silhouette beneath the coat? The easiest way to go about doing so is to pair a mini dress with thigh high boots. These turtleneck sweater dresses go perfectly with thigh high boots to accentuate your femininity.

2. Sweaters with a Twist

Sweaters are a must-have in everyone’s winter wardrobe, but if the words safe and boring are not in your fashion dictionary, sweaters with an unexpected twist would be right up your alley. If your girlfriend is just like you, surprise her with a sweater with lace details just like this!

Link: Grey Long Sleeve Contrast Lace Knit Sweater (US$26.78)

3. Blanket Scarves

Blanket scarves instantly add interest to any outfit as they can be worn both as a scarf as well as a shawl.  These make wonderful gifts as they are so incredibly versatile. 
I wore this soft and cozy blanket fringe scarf from SheIn as a shawl over a black lapel double breasted coat to lend a rocker chic vibe to the otherwise casual ensemble.
Link: Grey UStriped Fringe Scarf (US$20)
Alternatively, you can also jazz up a classic winter jacket with the same scarf for a more elegant, polished look. 
Link: Black Lapel Double Breasted Coat (US$57.51)
Inspired by these gift ideas? You might want to check out SheIn and get those fingers clicking while the Christmas sale is on!

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Fashion

Fashion: Spicing up the Normcore Style

November 22, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

Normcore is most certainly not a new fashion trend. It may have taken me a while to make a complete transition in favour of baggy boyfriend-esque tops and bottoms, not to mention giving up on accessorizing, but I was surprised at how liberating it felt to embrace simplicity in fashion.

Normcore, in my opinion, is a subset of the minimalist style. Comfortable basic pieces in baggy, over-sized silhouettes and sneakers form the core of this anti-style which happens to be ideal for the frequent traveller who wants to travel in style without compromising on comfort.
In many ways, normcore sounds bland and boring, but it is possible to spice up your normcore outfits by: 
1) Investing in basic pieces with a twist
Gotta love culottes
Culottes are a wonderful alternative to boyfriend jeans as they instantly amp up the style factor.
Bat wing sweater with uneven hems
In comparison to my plain long sleeve top in the previous photo, this bat-wing sweater with uneven hems (longer hem behind and shorter hem in front) creates a far more interesting silhouette.
2) Throwing on a beanie or hat with unexpected details
 Keeping it simple is the key to mastering the normcore style, but nobody said simple had to be boring. In this case, I kept the rest of my outfit simple but I injected an element of surprise by throwing on a beanie with pointy kitty ears. The minimalistic design and shape of the beanie are still very much in line with the normcore style, but a new dimension is given to the outfit.
Add unexpected details to your normcore outfit
.
If you have other ideas to spice up a normcore outfit, do share them with me! Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

*****

 

If you enjoy reading my blog, you might wish to click here to Like my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram (@reginachow_sg) too!

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Fashion

Fashion Fridays: Parisian Chic Style

November 13, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments
We all know that striped shirts play an integral role in achieving the Parisian chic style, but do you know what actually makes a striped shirt French? 
 
Interestingly, striped shirts used to be the official uniform of the French navy and the first designer who took inspiration from this uniform was no other than Coco Chanel. Chanel’s striped (also known as Breton stripes) top was designed to be worn with flared trousers and the result was an effortlessly stylish look that has stood the test of time.
Credit: Stylecaster
 What about berets? Like striped shirts, berets too originated from the French army. No wonder striped shirts and berets are associated with the quintessentially French style. 
In today’s edition of Fashion Fridays, I took a leaf from Coco Chanel and put together a Parisian chic ensemble with a striped top, flared jeans and a beret. 
This could have been a casual weekend outfit if I had paired it with sneakers or loafers, but I chose to glam it up a notch with a pleather jacket and ankle fringe boots instead.

What I love most about berets and striped shirts is their classic appeal. You will never have to worry about them going out of date and it is hard to go wrong with them because they go with just about anything. Just pick a striped top, match it with any bottom of your choice and chances are, you’ll look great. 
No time to do your hair? Put on a beret and you instantly transform into a fashionista.

If you don’t already own a couple of striped shirts and berets, perhaps it’s time to add them to your wardrobe. If you have other ideas on how to style them, do share them with me too!
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Fashion, Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: Spicing Up an All-Black Outfit

October 30, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

Do you have a uniform that you turn to on days when you feel like you have nothing to wear? I do, and it helps me look presentable on days when I am feeling lazy or simply do not have the time to make a conscious effort to coordinate my outfit before heading out. 
My everyday uniform is solely made up of shades of black, grey and beige. Isn’t my wardrobe boring without colours? I used to think that way too, but various textures and prints in monochromatic and neutral shades have proven me wrong. Hopefully this all-black OOTD that I’m sharing with you today will prove you wrong too.

To say I love my blacks is an understatement. Black occupies the bulk of my wardrobe now and naturally, I pack a lot of black with me when I travel. Case in point – I packed this black outfit with me during my recent trip to Shanghai and it is one of my favourite lazy day outfits.
What makes an all-black outfit interesting? 
Textures, textures, textures. In my opinion, the easiest way to play up a single colour outfit is to mix and match textures. 
The juxtaposition of black pleather with black fur amps up the glam factor instantly while my trusty ripped Frame Denim jeans and New Balance sneakers add a touch of casual chic to the ensemble. 
When you put several stand-out textures together, accessorizing becomes unnecessary. All I did was to top it off with a cap, which is the best accessory for lazy days as it hides your out-of-bed hair, shields your face from the sun and pulls your outfit together without any hassle.
 
If you have any other tips for spicing up all-black outfits, do share them with me! 
For now, I’ll be capping off (pun intended) this post with a photo of JW and I on a cruise along Huangpu River. 
If you don’t already know by now, he’s usually the man behind the camera, and a very talented camera man at that although he claims he abhors photography. Don’t you also agree that he is more photogenic than I am? His winning million-dollar smile and sharp features can do no wrong, plus he has absolutely no bad angles to speak of. He’s my better half in every sense of the word and while he is everything that I am not, he completes me and makes me a better person everyday. 
Thanks for reading and here’s wishing everyone a lovely weekend with your loved ones!
 
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Singapore Fashion Week OOTD: White on White

May 21, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

May has been a busy month for me but by some stroke of luck, I managed to make it down for one of the shows at Singapore Fashion Week. Here’s what I wore to the Star Creation: The Winners’ Collection fashion show.  
The white-on-white trend seems to be here to stay, and it is easy to see why. Clean, sharp and chic, standing out from the crowd with an all white ensemble is a breeze. It also provides the perfect canvas for accessorizing, but if you prefer to keep things simple, go for the minimalist look with just a touch of accessories. If you think the outfit is too white for you, you can always jazz it up with a pop of colour, like I did with my bag and strappy gold heels.
Dress from Keepsake // Cape Blazer from Love Bonito // Heels from Vera Wang // Bag from Hermes

The white geometric tube dress I have on is yet another quality classic piece from Australian label Keepsake. I love how the structured silhouette and asymmetrical hemline add a dose of edginess to the otherwise feminine dress. 
Speaking of Australia, I am looking forward to my Gold Coast getaway that’s happening in just a bit. I seem to have so many things on my plate these days and I just need my precious “me” time to relax and recharge. 
If you’re interested in what I’ll be up to in Gold Coast, you may wish to follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg) and snapchat (@reginachow_sg) as I will be sharing instant updates on these two platforms when I’m away! 

Have a great weekend ahead!
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Fashion, Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: Keepsake I Will Wait Dress

May 8, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

I have a soft spot for lace dresses, especially lace dresses with scallop trims and asymmetrical hemlines. Little wonder why Australian label Keepsake’s I Will Wait dress caught my eye. 
The silhouette makes it appropriate for work, but if you work in a more conservative environment, I would suggest throwing on a blazer to add structure. For events and functions, all you have to do is take off the blazer, slip into a pair of glamorous open-toe heels and you’re all set to steal the limelight.


The amazing thing about Australian fashion labels is that you never have to worry about quality. By and large, I have always been more than satisfied with my purchases because the material and workmanship never disappoint. Oh and did I mention that their smallest size usually fits me to a T? I have a couple of pieces from Keepsake in XXS and most require no alteration work, or in the worst case scenario, very minor nips and tucks. 

You can find Keepsake and other popular Aussie labels online, but personally, I like to shop from The Bird Cage Boutique as there are occasions (like now!!) when they offer an additional 40% off sale items! There’s also free shipping on orders above A$200!

Dress from Keepsake (here)
Shoes from Miu Miu
Clutch from YSL
Bangle from Hermes

If you were wondering, this set of photos was taken along one of the back alleys in Little India. Can you believe that these beautiful spiral staircases were built as an escape route in times of emergency?
 I love venturing into back alleys, away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. It is such a therapeutic yet educational experience. You’ll see a different side of Singapore’s urban landscape and catch a glimpse of history too as many of these shop houses have their own stories to tell. 
The beauty lies in the tiniest of details, and all you need to do is keep your eyes peeled as every corner brings new surprises.
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Fashion: Maxi Cardigans by Freja Designs

April 26, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

 Have you read my previous post on Layering with Ponchos by Freja Designs? Today’s post is rather similar, except that this time, I will be sharing how layering is made possible with a maxi cardigan.
Yet another functional piece from Swedish label Freja Designs, the maxi cardigan is perfect for layering over tank tops or camisoles. Again, this piece is made of 100% Rayon and is extremely lightweight. 
Nonetheless, don’t be deceived by its sheer appearance. I threw it on on a rainy day and was surprised to discover that this featherlight number kept me relatively warm throughout the thunderstorm even when I was indoors with the air-conditioning at full blast.

Maxi Cardigan & earrings c/o Freja Designs // Jeans from Frame Denim // Top and Sneakers from Korea


I have to admit the asymmetrical cascading sleeves first caught my eye but on the whole, I find its dark yet sensual design very attractive as it embraces femininity with an ample dose of edginess. 
For this particular look, I paired it with my trusty Frame Denim ripped jeans to amp up the rocker chic vibe. I would have gone for heels but sensibility got the better of me, hence sneakers were the choice of footwear for a day of errands.

Aside from outerwear and scarves, Freja Designs also offer an exclusive collection of timeless jewellery that will never go out of style. 
It was tough deciding on what to pick but I eventually chose a pair of stainless steel hoop earrings with black zirconia. Its understated glamour and versatility resonates with me and in addition to wearing this on casual weekends, I can definitely foresee that they’ll be out with me on weekdays to the office or even for more formal occasions.

 


Freja Designs
Website: 
http://www.frejadesigns.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/frejadesigns
Instagram:
@frejadesigns
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Fashion Fridays: Maxi Dresses for Work

February 27, 2015 by Regina Chow 3 Comments
It’s tough to find middle ground when it comes to maxi dresses. They tend to fall into either end of a spectrum, either too casual or too formal. 
I have to thank my lucky stars and also Sushi for taking the plunge and placing an order for this lace maxi dress from our supplier because “the one” that I’ve been looking for finally came along. Its shirt dress structure exudes a no-nonsense vibe while the delicate lace material lends a touch of feminine charm. Finally, a maxi dress that I can wear to work without looking underdressed or overdressed.     

While it is easy to take a dress like this to work, I would suggest you reserve this either for Casual Fridays or evening functions if your office has a very strict dress code. You can choose to dress up the dress with a pair of heels or slip into a comfy pair of wedges to dress it down.
Generally speaking, with a statement dress like this, there’s hardly any need for accessorizing. But if you really want to, you could cinch your waist with a skinny belt and put on some stud earrings. I picked out a pearl belt from my mum’s wardrobe to accentuate the silhouette and bring out the vintage appeal.


 
Bag from Hermes
Cuff from Hermes
Shoes from Pazzion
Belt from my mum’s wardrobe

I hope you enjoyed reading this week’s edition of Fashion Fridays. Have a great weekend ahead! 

*****

If you’re interested in sneak previews or real-time updates on my everyday life, do follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg).

If you enjoy reading my blog, do click here to Like my Facebook Page too! 
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About Me

Hi! My name is Regina and I am a style, beauty and travel enthusiast who enjoys writing, photography and letting my creative juices flow.

My blogging journey has been nothing short of exciting. I was recently named the winner of Her World Magazine’s Estee Lauder Style Superstar Awards 2016. My blog was also awarded Best Fashion Blog (Grand Winner) at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. The year before that, it won Best Online Shopping Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.

Additionally, it is listed as one of the 10 interesting blogs on Singapore by AsiaWeb Direct (http://www-singapore.com/blogs.htm). I was also featured on both local and international mainstream media for my views on style, fashion and online shopping:

The Straits Times (14 Oct 2014)

The Business Times (14 Oct 2014)

My Paper (13 Oct 2014)

CNBC ("Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online" - 28 Dec 2014)

For advertorials/partnerships, feel free to contact me at regina.chow@gmail.com.

Thank you!

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