D for Dot

For the past half a year, I’ve been rather fixated with finding a Barbie-pink lipstick that will work for me. Like the quest for the perfect red lipstick, hunting for a really great pink one is an arduous journey too. Too often, they are either too pale or too bright, too shiny or too matte. I finally found mine at the recently launched YSL Beauté standalone store at ION Orchard (the first in Southeast Asia) – from the Rouge Pur Couture line, in “Rose Libertin”. And it is not just the colour that has won me over (although it is just what I am looking for); I like my lipsticks creamy but not glossy and this lovely tube from YSL is just that. The staying power of the pigment is also impressive for something that is pleasingly moisturizing (say no to dry lips!).

I have to admit that the gorgeous gold casing is a significant part of its appeal – YSL cosmetics is known for their beautiful packaging – but that’s really just the cherry on the cake. It may not seem as opulent as the much-talked-about (and highly covetable) Tom Ford range, but for the much more reasonable price tag, this may be the best option for those of us who want to indulge in luxury but are not willing to spend a small fortune.

[Pictures: YSL lipstick on fashion editorial from RUSSH magazine, October/November 2012]

I didn’t do much shopping in Australia because a big chunk of the trip consisted of cruising along some coastal highway with a gorgeous view of the ocean (did not write this just to make you envious – its simply true). However, I did manage to spend a couple of hours at the South Wharf Direct Factory Outlets (DFO) and this place should make even the most hardened of veteran shoppers go a little weak at the knees. Considering this, it is incredible that I got away relatively unscathed with just one dress. And that one dress is from Australia high street brand Mossman.

I am attracted to Mossman’s design aesthetic because it is an interesting mix of tough/fierce and sweet/feminine elements. Structured urban-warrior dresses are splattered with soft hues and pretty prints. There is also an abundance of cool button-up tops (e.g. sheer pastels, embellished collars etc.), tiny-but-flattering mini-skirts and trendy asymmetrical jersey separates for layering. I had my eye on some of those bold floral print pants and a statement-making metallic purple skirt but didn’t have the nerve to buy them. In a nutshell, these are cool city-girl clothes that are reasonably priced – most pieces are tagged at under AUD150.

The next time you are in Australia, be sure to check out a Mossman boutique near you. Or simply shop online.

Here’s a sneak peek of a photoshoot I did with Fashfix last week. Some items from my wardrobe will be up for sale on the local fashion/shopping website sometime in the very near future, including the cosy spotted sweater in the picture above. I will be keeping you posted, so watch this space if this is something that you will be interested in. For those of you with a problem of having too many pieces of barely-worn clothes (due to over-enthusiastic procurement) crowding your closet, Fashfix is the place to be. A new and improved version of the site is set to go live soon, but you can still check it out right away!

Is polka dots back in vogue again? Actually, I think it never ever quite go off-trend. With everyone going dotty over the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collection and that polka-dot Paul Smith scarf I posted about yesterday, I may be over-dosing on spots recently. However, when I saw this Ladybird Crossbody Bag (SGD16.50) on the ASOS further reduction sale (up to 70% off now), I thought that maybe I can do with one more dotted item in my wardrobe. And seriously, it is a ladybird – how can one not love a ladybird bag? As I have mentioned before, I will pretty much love a ladybird anything.

If you are already following me on Facebook or Twitter, you will know that the mid-year sales are causing me considerable grief. In a nutshell, too many things to want, too little money to spare. But really, I can hardly claim exclusive right to this first world problem. Where this is concerned, the ASOS Good Times Sale is currently one of the main culprits. With the already affordable prices slashed by up to 50% and free worldwide delivery, getting away unscathed is a near-impossibility. So, I am rather proud to say that while I did buy something, it was a very modestly priced something. At just £8, the limited edition Bunny Slap Watch (above) is simply much too adorable to pass. You should be nodding your head in agreement right now. The good news is that the last time I checked, it is still in stock. It also comes in green (£12) and pink (£6).

Ah, some bad news for Singapore’s retail scene today. The ever fun and quirky A Curious Teepee is calling it a day and packing up its online business. But like they always say, there is a silver lining to every dark cloud. In this case, that will have to be the massive closing sale that is happening right now. With discounts up to 50% on selected items, you have until 7 July to shop the exclusive stock still available on the online store. From clothes and accessories to homeware and furniture, this is a fabulous opportunity to grab some great design bargains.

I bought this pretty Snow Globe Ring (USD12) a few minutes ago and am more than a little thrilled with my purchase. I know they are supposed to be really kitsch but I love snow globes. And now I can wear one on my hand! That’s one thing checked off on my bucket list.

Simply enter <FIVEZERO> at checkout to enjoy your discount!

A couple of days ago, I found myself at Sephora gift-hunting for a dear friend’s birthday present. I confess – it was kind of a last minute expedition, but hey, there is bound to be something pretty and nice to buy at Sephora! Sure enough, almost immediately, I found The Breakfast Scrub from Soap & Glory on the sale rack (20% off!) and just like that, I got hooked on its retro, fun and tongue-in-cheek packaging. As a sucker for good, witty product names, the Sexy Mother Pucker super-plumping lip gloss, Pulp Friction body scrub and The Daily Smooth body butter had me at hello.

A quick google later, I found out that this quirky bath, skincare and cosmetic brand is the brainchild of entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore, who you may know as the founder of the very successful Bliss Spa. Their obvious good looks aside, Soap & Glory products also use organic ingredients that can only be great for the skin. With a affordable price range (from SGD16), your shopping basket will be full in no time. Mine certainly was.

I just placed an order for this playsuit from Australian label Finders Keepers on UNESTABLISH.com, because the online store’s May promotion is too good a deal to miss. Just for this month, you can purchase any item and earn rebates on the full purchase price. Technically speaking, this means that you will be getting your second item free – or if you opt for cheaper items, maybe your third item as well! To top it off, the prices are very reasonable, so you can save yourself that guilt trip. Besides, if you have to shop (and we all do), why pay more when you can pay less? The math does not lie.

Now, help me out here: should I get this navy trench dress, this drape-front shirt-dress or this sheer lace dress as my second item?

Just a quick update on what I have been reading, wearing and buying. Considering that I hardly ever do outfit posts these days (am still undecided about resuming them), I thought I will follow in the footsteps of Carolina Engman of Fashion Squad and just lay them out. My latest batch of reads includes The Intimate Adventures of A London Call Girl and The Further Adventures of A London Call Girl by the infamous Belle de Jour. I used to read her award-winning blog back in the days and wanted to revisit her scandalous exploits and sharp wit – still a fun read after all these years.

Although I have always been more inclined towards gold, I am rather fond of these silver accessories from Montblanc. During my stint as a fashion buyer host during Blueprint, I was required to dress all in black. These classy polished silver pieces were great for keeping my outfits simple but far from boring. The bangle is something I can see myself wearing almost daily while the chain necklace makes enough of a statement without being loud.

For now, it is quite enough to know that the lovely python flats are from Emblem, an accessories label that strives to marry traditional Asian crafts with contemporary fashion. One thing is for sure: you will definitely be reading more about it on this blog.

Well, I did a very bad (or very good, depending on how you see it) thing. I went out and got myself the lovely PS1 Pouch in neon coral. Like all those things that we know are bad for us and we shouldn’t be doing, it felt really good. I’m sure you know exactly what I mean. As I’ve said before, it matches my blog perfectly. And (just one last attempt to justify the buy, I promise), its my birthday month! A little treat for the birthday girl – surely that is not too much to ask?

Okay, fine. I reallyyyyyyyyyy like it, okay? That’s all.