Style Guni Goes Green tomorrow at Singpost Center

And we want you there!

SD Members come dress in GREEN and spot the Crew at booth A19 (near the stage), to get further discount on these one-of-a-kind fashion steals! (If you're not yet a member, you can do so now to enjoy this awesome privilege tomorrow!)

Apart from the Style Guni favourites, the designers will also bring along their BRAND NEW OnPedder Shoes, Zara Wedges, GUESS bags, Shanghai Tang dresses, just to name a few, and expect to get these UNWORN past seasons brands at a super slashed price! (Yes, it's true...but of course not $5, please...)

Be early to catch the "BEST WORMS" because we will pack up by 5PM to celebrate THE REAL STYLE DAMSEL'S 18th** birthday!

(Click to enlarge image)

Cotter's weekend bazaar
(Spot the Cozycot crew in pink and ask for directions!)
2 Aug, Saturday, 12-5 PM
Singapore Post Center, #12-20.

Bring your own bag and cash payments only.

For more information please click at the badge below:

www.CozyCot.com

Reinterpreting the Shirt Dress

Shirt dresses are the best. They are smart, sophisticated but still very feminine and daytime perfect. Tailored, clean cut, prim and pretty, they are the sisters to classic DVF wrap dresses (and can even be worn by girls less well endowed in the chest area!). These kind of shirt dresses, like the ones shown from Ralph Lauren, will never go out of style. But in a more casual atmosphere, as I almost always find myself in, sometimes these shirt dresses make me feel slightly too dressed up, even if they are designed to be perfect for the daytime- like a sore thumb who somehow landed on the streets from the country club.
Luckily for me, the newly updated shirt dress this season neatly solves my dilemma. They are less structured, more casual, with fun, youthful details. And yet they still manage to maintain the very proper and put together effect of a classic shirt dress! These two are from DVF (left) and Sass & Bide (right). I especially love how they made it into a high collar instead on the Sass & Bide dress.
Over at Paul and Joe Sister (left) and Derek Lam 3.1 (right), they turned in the buttons and switched it for laces . Usually I'm not a fan of this type of lacing up (too Pocahontas!), but I think it works here. It gives it a more casual, outdoor-sy feeling to the whole look.
Here are two of my favourite reinterpretations of the shirt dress from Top Shop (left) and Corey Lynn Calter from Nordstrom (right). The Top Shop dress barely looks like a shirt dress with its wide round collar, bubbly sleeves and scrunching. But all the crucial elements are still there. With the right accessories i.e. big colorful necklace, this dress would look so cool and now. Going in the opposite direction, the dress from Nordstrom is loose but still structured in a futuristic kind of way. The addition of the bright yellow belt is absolutely genius. It completes the look. I DEFINITELY wouldn't mind owning this dress!

Image Source: Ralph Lauren, Paul and Joe Sister, Top Shop, Nordstrom and Net a Porter

Fashion Wedding Band (Aid) - Alyssa Dee Krauss

We fell in love with Alyssa's Wedding band-aids the very first time we saw them.

Bandage packaging

What about you??

Urban Renewal

I usually walk past the Urban Renewal section of Urban Outfitters, thinking it is vintage stuff, which is not really my thing (not unless they come from a member of my family anyway). At the back of my head, I'd always wondered exactly how they got so many vintage items of the same style in different sizes together in one place. I mean, aren't vintage items supposed to be unique? But I'd never really been interested enough to read the fine print on their website and find out how. It wasn't until my friend mentioned it the other day that I realized what it was. Apparently what they do is collect vintage clothes/fabric and put them together to form new, more updated clothes. That is how they come up with so many pieces of the same style in different sizes. You can buy it at the store or online, where they claim you can even choose colors and they'd make you a completely unique piece using different materials in the same cutting as shown. The whole idea is to re-use materials and it has been around for over 20 years (before the whole go green craze!)- I didn't even know that Urban Outfitters have been around for over 20 years, let alone this division.
One of the reasons I don't like vintage clothes is that whenever I see them they almost always look very dated, hippie and bohemian like, which is so over - thank god! And indeed they do have such stereotypical vintage clothing in this collection here (above: ugh). In fact, most of the collection is like this and I was not impressed. However, there were a few pieces that are intriguing- like this denim vest (right). The extra trimming is quite sharp and refreshing! I'm not really sure how this black blazer (left) is vintage, but I like the cutting.
The ruffled tunic shirt (left) is feminine and romantic looking. Perfect paired with that crisp cropped blazer above! And the floral skirt is cute, reminds me of the floral skirts in the Prada ads this season. Though one should be careful when wearing that in case you look like you're wearing your curtains. Paired with something smart, tailored and modern, it would look stunning.

The thing is though, I'm still not really sure how I feel about this concept of "Urban Renewal." Besides the fact that you still do not know who the previous (many!) owners are, I heard that the renewed material is very scratchy and not very comfortable. On the other hand, we do use recycled paper and bags......so why not clothes? Thoughts?

Image Source: Urban Outfitters

The UV Rays Up There

So remember how I've been travelling a bit last month? Most of the flights I took were daytime flights and one thing that really irritates me about daytime flights is the amount of sunlight in the plane. This might sound weird to most people, and even my parents think I'm a total freak for applying sunscreen before a flight but here's the logic: up there in the sky, there are no shades or clouds or anything so the UV rays are naturally stronger and more direct. And it doesn't help that almost all passengers love keeping their window covers up and let the sunlight get through. I usually try to get a windows seat just to keep the blinds down!

So maybe I'm a bit overly paranoid. But while going through my magazines from this year (before throwing them away,) I noticed Elle (UK) had a "Top Tips For A Healthy Flight" editorial from a few months ago. Most of these tips are pretty much what you always read about, like make sure you hydrate by drinking lots of water and applying good moisturiser *Insert product recommendations, naturally*. So most of the time I ignore these editorials since let's face it, they basically just tell you common sense and sell you a bunch of unnecessary beauty products. But there was a 'tip' that I just have to share here since not most people seem to not know or care about:

"Wear a lotion containing sunscreens. 'Recent Studies show that UV rays can penetrate an airplane's windows. Because you're higher, the sun's rays are stronger as there's less proection from the atmosphere,' warns Dr Tom Monroe, director of research and development at Clinique."

See! It's not just me. OK, so a doctor from a major beauty company saying this obviously has commercial reasons, but it sounds logical doesn't it? I'm no dermatologist so I have no idea which sunscreen is the best, but BG and I do love Bioderma's SPF products.

Anyhow, I actually wanted to write this post to rant about people who keep their window blinds up during the flight -just because you like the sun and don't mind the UV rays damaging your skin cells doesn't mean the passenger next to you wants that! OK, rant over.

Image Credit: www.bioderma.com

White Flip Flops

For the longest time, my summer staple have been simple white flip flops. Not the rubber beach kind, but the more sophisticated and dressy type, with actual soles, made of non-rubber material. They are just awesome, because they are summery, comfortable and matches with absolutely everything- perfect for a casual summer day. Ever since my pair of Nine West white flip flops with chunky heels (just the right height!) expired a few years back however, I haven't been able to find a pair to properly replace them.
That is until I laid eyes on my friend's pair of Tory Burch white flip flops (over at their website, they call it thongs.... I have no idea what the difference is). They are just EXACTLY what I've been looking for. While the design is simple and casual, the little gold emblem and the wooden sole gives it just the right amount of sophistication that makes it elegant and classy. I LOVE it. Unfortunately, I've walked through the shop and all the usual department stores, and couldn't find them. They're also sold out online of my size! But while I was browsing, I noticed that they had this design in many different sharp colors, like this yellow one, which I think works great to match/clash with this season's bold color theme.
Another white flip flop I've looked at are these ones from Banana Republic. The patent leather strip and sole transforms this simple, classic design from the beach to the streets. This design also comes in a rainbow of sharp colors and are relatively cheaper than the Tory Burch's (more available too!). The only question now is which color? Other simple flip flops I'that also fits the bill are these ones from Nordstrom. They're basically the same as the ones from Banana Republic, except the straps are a bit wider and have a bit more elevation in the heels. These little details actually help to make these more sophisticated. But the gold shiny stuff on the soles kind of put me off even though I know it won't show when I'm wearing it.... should definitely go check them out!

Image Source: Tory Burch, Banana Republic and Nordstrom

Fashion Millionaire By Chance - Jibbitz

Introducing Jibbitz

Mini Flowers, Disney Characters, American Flags... have you ever wonder how these little (usless-looking) knick knacks got their way onto your (fugly-looking) Crocs?

It was a fashion millionaire in the making - totally by chance - by merely accessorizing, which is a pure understatement of the word in every aspect in Sheri Schmelzer's case.


It all started one day when stay-home mum, Schmelzer, decided to "do something" to the "holes" she saw at her childrens' (what we truly think to-date as fugly,) Croc shoes. With clay and rhinestones, Schmelzer developed unique charms that fit perfectly into the holes of (fugly-looking) Crocs at the basement of her Boulder, Colorado home. A motherly stunt that was initially meant to be an amusement to her 3 kids, became an ingenious fashion business, Jibbitz, which her enterprising husband helped brought it to its success.

Jibbitz

It wasn't before long, that the team from Crocs Inc found Schmelzer, and offer her USD$20 million for Jibbitz! The couple finally agreed to Crocs Inc. in December 2006 and Jibbitz now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Crocs Inc., and the Schmelzer founders have remained as President and Chief Design Officer. (At this point, we thought that Jibbitz is not all that "usless-looking" afterall.)

The Schmelzers

According to its website, Jibbitz “allows Crocs consumers to personalise their footwear to creatively express their individuality”, which is perhaps over-intellectualising it for a bit. For those still blissfully ignorant, they are pieces of coloured rubber-like buttons, selling for around $3 (£1.50) a pop, in 1,100 different patterns.

Customise with your favourite Jibbitz

There are Harry Potter house crests and Disney characters. You can stick gingerbread houses or gemstones on your Crocs, national flags and animals (the UK’s bestsellers are the big flowers). There are Jibbitz for specific places – football ones for Europe, Hello Kitty for the Far East and American flags for, well, probably only Americans. They are sold in 86 countries (Japan is the biggest market) and Schmelzer has even been on Oprah, in an edition called Million Dollar Moms.



Direct Link

So, do you have any stroke of genius (albeit unknowingly) at home or work so far?

Summer Plus Size Trends: Tribal

Think African Safari. Picture endless savannas of knee deep tan grasses breezing gently with a light coating from the last dust storm. You are riding in a huge topless jeep bouncing wildly while taking in the scene as your guide, a strapping bronze research student, drives you closer to the local tribes' village. There you are surrounded by women wrapped in beautiful woven fabric with unruly designs in patterns and simple scenes. Children are chasing one another with intricately woven baskets a top their heads. The bronze research student takes your hand and .... Reality check!! Clarke Gable is not your bronze student and you are not Ava Gardner
staring in Mogambo!! Now that we have established that, lets keep the atmosphere. Bring the African Safari back home.

This tunic is great to wear over leggings or jeans. The print is bold but the the subtle colors keep it from being overwhelming. Punch it up with some ivory bangles or bone colored cuff. Don't be afraid to mix in a little of your own color. Even though there us a print, the color palate is wide open for interpretation. Maybe some orange earrings? Possibly an Olive green bag? Make it your own look.





Be fierce like Tyra. The pattern on this dress can be worn with pearls or casual roman sandals. A strong print calls for smaller accessories but that doesn't mean you can't wear color or get creative.








The colors in this crochet tank are really breaking the black and while mold that we have seen in a lot of collections. The earth tones still work as a neutral but are a nice option besides black. The casual look works really well for the beach or a BBQ, but with a pair of cuffed trousers and a jacket it could fly in the office too!






What a great summer piece! The trim has a rainbow of colors to work with. And because it's so small you can chose your feature! This tunic has a very Peruvian vibe and with some chunky jewelry could make quite the statement. Try it with a braided belt or a hobo bag.

Chasing Harry Winston

Even without the fabulous pair of Louboutins and the three gorgeously fantabulous diamond rings on the cover, the name Lauren Weisberger is enough to make me pick up the book. Not that I think she's a particularly great writer, but because I know that it will be light and fun summer read- just what I am looking for. The whole fabulous, gorgeous people living extravagant and successful, perfect lives looking for love is a bit overdone these days, but I've always felt a connection with Weisberger's books. Even though it wasn't very memorable to some (HG barely remembers it), I felt a strong connection with the character in Everyone Worth Knowing. Bette's story might as well have been the fictionalized version of my future (she went from finance to the fabulous life of party planning to realizing that her true calling was writing)!
Back to the book at hand (at this point, you should realize that there are potential spoilers here). This one is about three best friends making a pact to change their way of lives. One tries monogamy after a life of polygamy. The other goes in the opposite direction and goes on a tour de whore. And the last attempts to convince herself that her perfect life really is perfect. Over all, I thought it was pretty badly written and that Weisberger is now just publishing by reputation rather than by content (this situation sounds oddly similar to the dilemma of yet another bestseller author mentioned in the book!). A lot of times the writing was long-winded and unnecessary. She spent the majority of the first chapter, where the author is supposed to captivate the readers, talking about Leigh's need for personal space and control freak quirks with a detailed description of her apartment. It just made me want to pick up a pen and edit everything out! Only her name on the cover kept me going.

The plot was predictable and mellow. I felt like I was just cruising along the story. Nothing exciting ever happens, because she tries this technique where she just ends the chapter when something does happen and then picks up again after the event. Leigh breaks up with her fiance and we get to read about how nervous she was before the event and her reflections after the event. Adriana meets her "future husband" and we hear about them dating from talks by the other two girls. It was like a whole book of reflection, where the readers were put in the peripheral of the story instead of INSIDE the story. And the other thing is that nothing bad ever happens to the characters. They all lead a charmed, perfect life and everything just magically comes to them, with no obstacles to overcome or anything. One decides she wants to travel the world and a fabulous job miraculously appears. One wasn't even trying and simply finds her true calling in writing. And the other just decides to leave everything she's worked for behind and everything works out. I know that being realistic is not exactly the primary goal of chick lits, but this is just a bit overboard. To give her credit, the characters do each experience life changing revelations (there really wouldn't BE a story otherwise), but everything just came together a little too perfectly.

The relationship between this story and Harry Winston is not a giant rock on a ring as I'd first imagined (and the cover alluded to). The only reference to Harry Winston is a pair of diamond earrings that Salma Hayek wore to the Oscars from there, that a suitor gave to one of them. I guess they were just looking for a catchy title.

One thing Weisberger does do well however, are her characters. She paints them all in a very distinctive but relatable light. My favourite character is Leigh, who has the perfect job and the perfect boyfriend. The thing I love about her most is her control freak tendencies and need to be alone. I can totally relate to that. I LOVED it when she applied sunscreen on her body, then sprayed herself with more sunscreen in case she missed any spot and THEN applied a more expensive sunscreen on her face- rationing that the rest of them will regret it later when they need botox and laser treatment to get rid of their wrinkles and dark spots. That is MY rational as well (although I don't apply quite so thoroughly as she does). Next is Emmy, who just got dumped by her ex of five years, and her dearest dream is to get married and have lots of kids. Having never "played around," she is still very shy around guys and we get to see her get out of her shell in that respect. I feel for every step she took. Then there is Adriana, the fabulously gorgeous and wealthy Brazilian girl who leads the perfectly charmed life. However, even she feels a bit empty, lost and worried about her future. Sounds familiar?

Honestly, not a very original, engaging nor well-written book. But if you are looking for something light and brainless to past time on the beach (or just time in general).........then by all means. It's good and cheery enough to bring a smile to my lips in the end (happy endings always warms me up!).

Image Source: Amazon

Bras with Different Straps at the Back

At the end of last summer I evaluated my wardrobe (-something everyone should do at the end of a season or the beginning of a season,) and decided that I really didn't have enough young, casual clothes. Most things I owned seemed so stuffy and old -imagine really boring, plain clothes with boring, unhip cutting. So when I onlined shopped a few months ago, I made sure to reject clothes that were too plain and looked for some colour.

I really liked this tank top (by Kate Moss Top Shop) because it had a hint of colour and interesting pattern on it but it was still my style. But when I bought it, I didn't realise how low the hole at the back was and I liked the top so much I didn't return it. So then I started to look for a bra that was backless or had a ok-to-be-seen-strap.

Why not just show the back of a normal bra? Because I've seen a few people wearing tops and dresses with showy backs like these Top Shop tea dresses with their normal bras showing and believe me, they were not attractive!

Since the UK doesn't have Victoria's Secret, the first place I looked was Marks & Spencer. This bra was kind of what I was looking for. The straps at the back were thin and interesting enough to not remind me of the traditional thick back strap. Unfortunately, it only comes in black, and since the material of the tank top was pretty thin, I didn't want a black bra to be seen obviously underneath.

Then there was this bra. I admit that I've always thought transparent straps as sort of tacky-looking in most situations. (Is it just me?) But I love the idea that the back strap was transparent -an alternative style for the thick strap at the back. Alas, I forgot to buy one before leaving the UK. Now I have to figure out how to wear the tank top! (I prefer not layering with another camisole because it just doesn't look as nice and defeats the purpose of keeping cool.) Any ideas?

Btw, I didn't even consider a strapess, backless bra because I imagine they would feel very uncomfortable and insecure. If any of you have used one, what did you think of them?

Image Credits: http://www.topshop.com/, http://www.marksandspencer.com/

Du Juan on Vogue by Jaywalk

Global Vogue Of The Oriental Face
by JayWalk
(Note that the author is a Singaporean who is working in China)

(22 Jul 2008) - Shanghai-born Du Juan is a Chinese supermodel and the first Oriental model to grace the front cover of the prestigious French Vogue magazine back in 2006. 2 years later in April 2008, she was again featured by French Vogue magazine as Top Model.

Oriental presence in the Western world started humbly in the early days and was led by the men who forayed into Hollywood. Names ranging from Bruce Lee to John Woo to Jackie Chan are all familiar household names in the west. The women were not far behind with Joan Chen to Gong Li to Zhang Ziyi, just to name a few.

Perhaps the milestone happened in the year 2000 where the hit movie "Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon" scored big at the Academy Awards and the walk of the red carpet prior, a fashion event on its own merit, finally put an Oriental face to glamour fashion.

The rest, if I may steal an old cliché, is history.

So the question now is if the Oriental face will be the next fad in the global fashion industry? What would be the impact?

I would have to say in my humble opinion, yes to the short term and no the long term.

Yes, the Oriental face is the current new curiousity of the fashion world. Move aside Naomi Campbell (African). Step away Adriana Lima (Latina). Get lost Kate Moss (Caucasian)!

TAN BEE LIAN'S in DA HOUSE!

It's true that the Western world is slowly becoming intrigued by Asians over the past years as the Chinese began to open up its doors to international trades and events. Not only was the football World Cup held in Korea and Japan back in 2002, we now have the Beijing Olympics due to start only in a matter of days. In the past (and even today), we see only a handful of oriental-looking models on international runway shows, a similar sight for Black models in the seventies (until Iman came along and broke the barrier).

The true pushing force to launch the Oriental face to the global arena is actually MONEY. China's money to be exact.

Over the years, China's economy has grown from strength to strength at such a dizzy pace that it is now merely a matter of time before China surpasses USA as the global leader in the world's economy. We may all end up working for the Chinese "Lao Ban" (meaning "Boss", in Mandarin) one day, like it or not.

The buying power of the Chinese is so great in the modern day that it would be foolish for the fashion houses to ignore this juicy slice of lucrative pie. The proud French have already relented and accepted the Chinese drinking their Bordeaux with 7-UP. So how hard can it be now to put an Oriental face on their latest catwalk?

The Chinese are not only here to stay, they will buy the catwalk too while sipping cognac stirred with green tea.

Long term-wise, it is not that big of a deal as the novelty will eventually die down as human civilisation heads towards homogeneity. By then, the Oriental face will be no more peculiar than a Latino or Caucasian or African.

So no. Not everything will go Oriental at the end of the day, but we will start to see more and more designs with Oriental inspiration.

Man Tou and Camembert, anyone?

JayWalk is a guy who is not stupid enough to ink a refrigeration symbol on his wrist permanently, not rich enough to afford plastic surgery, not popular enough to win an OMY blog nomination, not brave enough to camwhore, not young enough to get away with wRitInG aLtErnAtE cAps, not old enough to get MRT senior citizen discount, not Beng enough to have a pack of Marlboro under the shoulder of his t-shirt nor AngMoh enough to drink tea with the pinkie sticking out. Yet, "All Your XMMs Are Belong To JayWalk" as the Tok Kok King pulls off a literary smoke grenade piece on the fashion world. Go figure.

Image Credit: http://images.nymag.com

Chanel Paris-London 2008 Ad Campaign

OK, I know this post comes very late since this ad campaign is for Chanel's Pre-Fall collection -the images have already been out since last December and have been published in June 2008's magazines, (which we know means that they've out for years in fashion years,) but I just noticed the campaign seriously when I was in a Chanel boutique last week and saw the campaign booklet lying around. I saw the costume jewelry and I flipped through the booklet and fell in love with the campaign. It's been a long time since I've been able to honestly say I love an ad campaign but this one is absolutely stunning.

First off, I admit I simply do not know how to appreciate Amy Winehouse's music and I dislike her beehive hairstyle even more. You know how a few designers have been using that beehive hairstyle on their runway shows? Well I hated most of them. But the way the Amy Winehouse inspiration has been used in this campaign has totally changed that messy look into something very elegant and sophisticated. Coco Rocha manages to pull off an elegant, young, sophisticated girly look with a hint of dark edginess. Just look at the images above!

Usually I hate it when the models are randomly holding many bags or wearing way too many accessories in ad images, but this campaign pulls it off seamlessly. It's got a perfect balance of being gorgeously artistic and being commercial. I mean, after looking at it, I don't only think it's seriously captivating, I also really want a bunch of those accessories! This is definitely one of my favourite Karl Lagerfeld-photographed campaign!

I LOVE all the golden silver accessories -like this feather hair accessory and huge neckalce -it's so glamorous in an uncomplicated way.

Bravo to Coco and Karl for pulling off this ad perfectly!

Image Credit: http://www.chanel.com/

Summer Plus Size Trends

Refresher!

Hippie:

The world of crazy colors and psychedelic prints has made a comeback! Inspired by all of those things you did in the 70's but will never tell your kids about. Designers this season found their spark by channeling Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon mixed with some American Indian accessories and motifs. This time around the colors are more electric and eye catching. Mother Nature definitely got the shaft on this resurgence.

Below: from the runway shows of Balmain, D & G, and Etro.
Tribal:

Taking cues from African and Asian inspired cultures, exotic prints hit the runways this season. I wonder if anyone paid for the rights to these beautiful prints... A lot of Black and cream are being mixed with muted colors to create a more "natural" color pallet. Wood and bone hardware complete the look - maybe even a grass skirt here or there.

Below: from the runway shows of Tracy Reese, Duro Olowu, Diane von Furstenberg



Stay tuned for part 2! We will show how Roaman's works these trends!

Men Fashion: Sports ESPY Awards 2008

With Mr sexyback as host, it wasn't too difficult to convert to great sports fans overnight.
Held last Wednesday, the 16th ESPY award ceremony was a galore of body-beautiful and athletic sports celebrities like Alex Rodriguez, Lindsey Vonn, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and soccer great David Beckham.


Over the years, with an increasing number of collaborations between fashion designers and sports labels (Alexander Mcqueen with Puma, Stella Mccartney and Yohji Yamamoto with Adidas, and Diane von Fürstenberg with Reebok) it isn't difficult for athletes to pick up better dress sense and get educated with high-end fashion labels. The effort in promoting aesthetics within comfort has seen some reasonable results in our male athletes these days. Take the cue from this year's ESPN ESPY award show:

Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtic, in primp white suit with contrasting pipe details and black collar.

Not to confuse it with Terrell Owens (seen with Kate Walsh), in an equally charming enhanced lapel suit

Vernon Davis from the San Francisco 49ers, classic and clean (we love the details).

Antoine Walker in classic black pin-stripe suit

David Beckham opted for a round-tip collar shirt and black skinny tie

Of course, wherever you go, there are bound to be fashion tragics...and it's not surprising if any of that came from sportsmen.

Sorry Shuan, full gold ain't working for us!

No excuse if you can't afford a mirror, Mr Edwards!

Though nothing related to NFL or sports for that matter, Zac Fron looked really polished and all-grown up in this cool-color ensemble

Zac Fron from high-school musical, better safe than sorry.

And of course the charismatic JT in marshmallow cream suit and black bow-tie