beauty in slow motion.

There's something so eerie yet so undeniably dreamy about the winter months. Howling winds and limited daylight hours might sound like a drag to some, but winter comes with it's own poignant seductiveness and magic. It's a temporary state of dormant absence, it's the time of stagnant snowflakes and elegantly frail trees, of beautifully soft cardigans and layers upon layers of warm, cuddly clothes. It's full of those beautiful moments where you stomp through fresh carpets of powdered snow and you listen to the silence and the steadiness of the breeze, and curl up in a ball by the crackling fire with a steaming mug of cocoa and the latest issue of Vogue. Speaking in the context of weather, it's a serene, slow time of year, where temperatures frolic in the sub-zero extremities.

Pat McGrath described Gucci's Fall 2012 beauty look as "dark romance." Her signature bleached brow lent an ethereal, faerie-like feel to the collection, as well as contrasting perfectly with the deep, berry-stained lip trend. Eye makeup was kept to a minumum with translucent, coral shades for a wintery, snow-kissed look. Au naturale seems to be the recurring theme here, with only the slightest use of colour to mirror the freshness of one's cheeks after a day spent in the cold, biting wind. Simple, windswept waves and no-fuss twirls and braids pulled together each look, keeping things simple yet sophisticated.

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What do you think of Gucci's Fall 2012 "Dark Romance?"

alexander mcqueen | AW2012

I’ve always loved looking at fashion “movies” on YouTube, my favourite being Rodarte’s “The Curve of Forgotten Things” featuring Elle Fanning. We often see fashion depicted in the form of video clips of runway shows, writteninterviews with designers and photographsof their latest collection, but the dynamic medium of movie-making is one that is both wildly effective and vastly underused. Movies are a delicious infusion of the three most common forms of “digital fashion” that I listed above; it combines elements of animated visual stimulus with various audio supplements, and can be embellished with a multitude of special effects to create an artistic explosion which illustrates a concept more effectively than any individual method. Movies add new dimensions to fashion: context being one of them. Instead of browsing through a series of runway pictures, seeing an animated display of fashion sort of places it in context within the greater scheme of things.

I recently came across AlexanderMcQueen’s A/W 2012 campaign movie, and at first I didn’t know what to think of it. Fashionista.com described it as a “trippy fashion rave,” which sounds pretty accurate to me. Directed by David Sims and featuring Suvi Koponen, this psychedelic thrill-ride of electric hues and stop-motion style filming is certainly dizzying, to say the least. It’s unlike any other campaign Alexander McQueen has ever produced, and for a while I was tied between thinking:

1.     “Woah, look at this groundbreaking campaign! McQueen has never been so daring and extraordinary before – this is so awesome!”

2.     “I love the ideas behind this, and it’s definitely an authentic concept, but the video doesn’t really hit the spot.”

3.     “This is crap.”

I’ve attached some screen-grabs of the video, and the link to it is here, so I’ll let you judge this campaign video for yourself.

If you’re curious to know, I finally settled on an opinion regarding this video: It was utterly crap. I hate to say this because I’ll forever hold McQueen close to my heart as one of the best designers of all time, but that video really did suck. Admittedly, I haven’t had the chance to leaf through the collection itself, but as for the video, it was just disappointing – nothing more than a repeated clip of Suvi putting on and taking off a pair of metal goggles against a background of a fluorescent kaleidoscope. Kudos to Team McQueen for being adventurous and trying something new, but that video was laughably monotonous and terribly off-topic. But I still love you, Team McQueen – we all have bad days collections!

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#AFF2012 part 2 - zac posen.

"Asia as a whole is so important to my design, to my business, to my personal aesthetic and culture."

Elaborate floor-grazing gowns of every delicious hue accompanied by office-chic power suits for the modern contemporary woman, Zac Posen delivered a lip-smacking, saliva-inducing double collection (Pre-Fall and Fall/Winter 2012!) on the penultimate night of Singapore's Audi Fashion Festival 2012. His runway preview, as well as the pre-show excitement buzzing in the Tent@Orchard, was nothing short of a wondrous affair, with socialites, editors, style enthusiasts and local celebrities dotted around on the red carpet, clutching glistening flutes of champagne and mingling with the stars... And, of course, maintaining perfect composure under the merciless flash-photography attacks of the paparazzi.

 (I'm proud to say that I, too, was subjected to the utter "torture" of having my picture taken by the paps. Sigh, life's tough.)

I hate to start my review with a piece of criticism, but I do think this is worth sharing: Although the individual pieces were absolutely stunning, I do think that a little more time, effort and resources could be put into expanding the existing collection(s) even further by exploring a wider range of stylistic techniques and fabrics, and drawing inspiration from a larger scope of sources. I purposely decided to include the 4 pictures above in a collage together because I think they collectively represent the essence of Posen's collections (I probably should've thrown in a fiery hued dress for oriental measure, too...): Evening dresses, power suits and the occasional textured separate. I know that sounds harsh and abrupt, but throughout the whole show, I felt like I was waiting for something that would really strike a chord and bring the audience to their feet. The power suits brought a smile to my face, as did the genius idea of layering a luxury fur pullover on top of a voluptuous tailed skirt, so I can't help but wish I saw more ingenuity and uniqueness. I felt that Posen played it safe by playing up his signature strengths (in the form of evening gowns), even though he had the potential to impress his audience equally as much by taking bolder risks.

  And with that short complaint over - I'm pleased to begin the next phase of this lengthy post, which will be flowing with nothing short of the highest praise for Posen's glittering creations. Promise.

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 In an interview with BBC, Zac Posen spoke of the increasing influence that Asia possesses over his designs and his aesthetic. He certainly isn't just full of talk; the evidence of Asian inspiration was profoundly significant, and pulsated through the entire collection. As intense Adele violin instrumentals blared, the show kicked off with understated LBD's (Long Black Dresses, that is), and graduated into the first dose of saturated red gowns, reminiscent of Chinese prints and oriental motifs. Both the atmosphere and the music both cooled down a few notches as a series of tailored ensembles in sub-zero hues unfolded onto the runway. Taffeta silk tails blazed the trail the entire night, with unique silhouettes and inventive collar-cuts following close behind. Icy chandelier earrings embellished each and every million-dollar look by adding a few more zeroes to their price tags, as well as leaving remnants of tiny, sparkling reveries for the audience to devour. Although the venue remained understated and simple, the high-octane glamour was enough to leave the entire room tent ablaze with explosions of fluorescent fabric and dazzling diamonds.

 

 Posen's authentic showcase was the first proper "Fashion Week" show that I have ever attended, and judging by the hyperventilating, giggly state I returned home in, it certainly wasn't going to be the last. I am proud to say that I returned to that very same tent with even more juvenile enthusiasm the following night for the grand finale that bid farewell to AFF2012 - Roland Mouret. A post on that is coming soon!

photo credits to audi fashion festival singapore

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sri lanka 2012.

As some of you might already know, I was lucky enough to spend a relaxing week in Sri Lanka over my Spring Break. It was the first time I'd been there, and although we didn't do much exploring of the country and culture (we sort of villa-hopped and shut out the rest of the world and lazed on the beach and ate way too much for a whole week), it was a rejuvenating haven away from the bustling city life I'm so used to. Punctuated with exotic spicy Sri Lankan curries, sunkissed days (and slathering aloe-vera gel on our sunburn the next morning!) and the rhythmic crashing of azure waves, it was a lovely, albeit lazy and unproductive week!

The first place we stayed at was an absolutely beautiful villa (by the equally beautiful name of "Auraliya" - seriously how great is that name?) belonging to some friends of ours - pictured in the two images above. With spacious rooms, a priceless sea view, a large lawn and the best service I have ever experienced in my life, the few days we spent here with our friends were so memorable. 

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Seriously though, how awesome is that pool?! As soon as it got dark each night, they turned on these little fairy lights which completely illuminated and transformed the pool into a blanket of stars; at your feet as opposed to over your head!

Although we didn't do much exploring of the country, we did go on a safari in Yala National Park! Although sitting in a seriously bumpy jeep for 7 hours was a challenge, the scenery, the animals, and the sheer amount of open space made me feel so infinite. Rolling hills, vast lakes, and animals literally everywhere - Yala was truly a sanctuary of abundant, untouched nature.

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"I love places that make you realize how tiny you and your problems are."

 Apologies for the excessive amount of sunset pictures in relation to everything else - seeing such stunning sunsets every night was the most wonderful way to wind down a long day. After Sri Lanka, I feel like I have a newfound appreciation for this simple phenomenon. It's as if the light is melting away into darkness, accentuated by succulent swirls of burnt hues. Amber, sienna, vermillion, gold, magenta and ochre streak the sky in opulent doses, and for a precious few minutes, the sky transforms right before your eyes. 

 Hope everyone had an equally relaxing Spring Break; I'd love to hear about your adventures too!

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photo credits to my talented mother and her Canon 7D!

topshop unique - fall 2012.

Topshop Unique blows me away season after season, and their Fall 2012 collection was certainly no exception. The name of the collection,"Utilitarian Nonchalance," describes this sumptuous collection perfectly. With military-inspired separates, restructured silhouettes and a daring blend of fabrics and colors, this collection came out as one of the strongest amongst it's competitors for this season. While Topshop Unique's Spring collection didn't satisfy my palate as much as I expected it to, the understated grunge of "Utilitarian Nonchalance" has reedemed itself and whisked my breath away.

The recurring cross (+) motif that was both obscured and obvious was a definite success in my opinion. It's not a pattern you see widely in the fashion world, and it lent an industrial, primitive twist to the sultry gloom of the collection. From kitschy, round-neck sweaters to steep v-necked shirts and jumpsuits, this motif resounded throughout the runway pieces and lightened up the military mood.

 The variety of silhouettes in this collection is utterly magnificent. From spunky, daring minidresses to conservative-chic coats, there's something for absolutely everyone. I especially adore the way the waistlines are accentuated in this collection- particularly in the four images above. The first two depict examples of the drop-waist, a gorgeously androgynous feature that suits this military collection perfectly. The last two images of pants that are nipped in at the waist achieve a put-together silhouette (which is subsequently thrown off balance with a shapeless, masculine overcoat. Typical of Topshop, to say the least).

The opulent diversity of the minidresses in this collection is undoubtedly one of this collection's strengths. Although they didn't stick strictly to the "dress code" of military grunge, they certainly added flavour to the collection with their rich fabrics and textures. My favourites include the dress on the far right which looks like it's made up of tiny dried black petals, and the  metallic sheath (second from the left) which has peekaboo strips across the chest.

Seeing as this is a Fall collection, heavy-duty outerwear and thick fabrics are pretty much guaranteed to appear at some stage in every collection. But forget fur-lined puffer-coats or pastel cardigans- Topshop Unique has broken into the boys' closet and stolen all their stuff. "Military Nonchalance" included a luxurious variety of all sorts of outerwear- from floor sweeping affairs to cropped, ragged numbers. Olive colored knits draped over fitted, modern dresses hit the spot for me, as did the luscious burgundy of an unbuttoned trench, topped with an eyebrow-grazing hat. Although I would've liked to see more detailed embellishments such as exposed zippers, rusty metal buttons and ragged edges, the hasty layering and too-cool attitude of the outfits were enough to have me head over heels.

What did you think of this collection?

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golden globes 2012.

I absolutely loved watching the Golden Globes this year; it was the cosy charm of the dinner tables and small-ish audience (in comparison to the Grammy's!) that really hit home for me. It was heart-warming to see such a prestigious award ceremony held in such an intimate setting, I almost felt like I was in the same room as them! It was so difficult to nominate 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, so I ended up having to select two stunners for each category.

I had to give it to my two favourite Modern Family girls this time. Aside from being one of the funniest people ever, Sofia Vergara is absolutely stunning. I mean seriously, look at those curves! This sensual Vera Wang gown, reminiscent of ocean waves and stitched in stunning navy thread, made for a show-stopping silhouette.

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Although still fairly young, its clear that Sarah Hyland has a dazzling future paved out for her; not only in TV but maybe in fashion, too. A browse through her street-style shots will be sure to clear up any doubts that any of you have about her in no time. This vintage Dolce & Gabbana masterpiece highlights her slender figure and the colour scheme couldn't be more compatible with that of her skin/hair. Topped off with a few soft, loose curls, this 21 year old is nothing short of radiant, even though her zipper suffered a malfunction on the red carpet!

Not far behind in the competition comes Kate Beckinsale in a creamy Roberto Cavalli creation, adorned with jewels. My favourite thing about the dress isn't only the fact that it looks like it was made for her- it's that beautiful, structured curve at the top of the dress, which doesn't quite hug her cleavage, but does bring considerable attention to it. It's so refreshing from a structural point of view, seeing as the rest of the dress is either figure-hugging or frothy & flowing.

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Glee girl Lea Michele really wowed critics in a daring Marchesa piece. She looks party-ready in that glitzy, high-glitter creation, and I adore the McQueen-style detailing on the top half (although, at a first glance, I thought glitter-covered reptiles were clawing at her boobs). Baring a bit of skin- yet keeping it classy, that's Rachel Berry for you!

If her dress wasn't sprinkled with a fine dose of metallic shimmer, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed Jessica Alba's Gucci look half as much as I do right now. Although that isn't the most appetizing shade of lavender, the glitzy frosting amps up the power of the dress, and I have to give it to her for complementing her empire-waist gown with a cute clutch. She's so gorgeous, she can pull off anything. God, I hate people like that.

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Mila Kunis received her fair share of crap for wearing this slightly frumpy Dior dress, and although I must agree that the awkward waistline doesn't do anything for her figure, I didn't think it was a bad choice. This chick is sexy, and she proved that she could work this dress to her advantage by slicking her dark mane back and letting her fierce features shine. 

What did you guys think of the Golden Globes? Which dresses were your favourites?

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& Thanks to everyone who supported the short life of ShopSIS. Unfortunately I had to close it down for logistical reasons, but fortunately I got to keep the pieces that perhaps I didn't want to sell after all! Thanks to everyone who has also checked out the "Press" page in the right-hand sidebar. Feedback on the new blog buttons I've recently added is also very welcome!

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green poppies.

Subtle, loving message to all my darling readers: Before you scroll down, please note that as this was a submission to a magazine, it's an incredibly long, full-length article. If you have fifteen minutes on your hands and are keen to read this from start to finish, I would advise a quick trip to the bathroom and a comfy seat before commencing, to ensure maximum enjoyment and minimal fuss. 

I was wearing a dress from Zara, thrifted lace tights, Doc Martens and a Sisley handbag.

Photos by Max.

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Decked out in a fresh white embroidered summer dress (whipped out especially for Diwali*, she says), embellished wedges and a skinny belt, Hazel Lam is absolutely radiant. She sparkles with natural beauty, and unlike some Singaporean women who swear by slashings of liquid liner, her makeup is tastefully applied and brings out her cute-as-a-button features. A soft-spoken sari collector, Hazel Lam is the proud owner of an artsy boutique in Singapore’s famous Haji Lane; “Green Poppies.” After studying in Korea for a few years, she fell in love with the “street style and the vibrant, unique culture”, and upon her return to Singapore, she decided to bring in stock from her favourite labels in Korea. Although Green Poppies imports most clothing from Korea, it does manufacture its own line of simple laptop cases that are always in high demand. Aside from shopping overseas, Hazel enjoys shopping at River Island and Zara, which she instantly names her favourites. She recalls with a wistful smile her youthful hopes of working in the performing arts industry, and I’m convinced that Hazel might just be the most lovely, adorable person ever. Green Poppies celebrates its 4^th year as an online store and it’s first year as a boutique next year, and it is clear that the brand is definitely on its way to even greener pastures.

*Diwali = an Indian Festival/Holiday which is also a public holiday in Singapore

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.She eagerly shows me to the second floor after we both chatted for a while and downed our drinks, where she unveils her newest collection. Pleated maxi skirts, floaty chiffon tops and intricate summer dresses are everywhere, and a sombre rack of black and white seperates is also part of the mix. A stunning array of wooden-handle clutches and various other art-deco style bags are on display, and at my feet are a magnificent line of mock-suede moccasins in rich tones (think Topshop-style shoes, a few notches down). Hazel shows me the new collection of heels as well, in particular a smouldering platform shoe with an electric red sole, and she insists they’re as comfortable as anything. “They have a platform that’s underneath the ball of your foot, so they’re a lot more comfortable than normal heels,” she says.

She pulls out a sleek black dress, cinched at the waist, pleated at the skirt and wonderfully voluptuous at the sleeves and instantly names it one of her favourites. As she roams the color coded shelves for more of the best of her newest collection, I can’t help but notice something that lured me to the store in the first place; the unflinching variety it promised. In all honesty, while I was roaming the racks of beautiful clothing, I couldn’t think of anything Hazel had missed. She had ticked all the boxes with her handpicked seperates, from girly to edgy to metallic to eveningwear. From sleek pencil skirts to dreamy ruffled pieces, the cozy, woody attic of her store was a delight to both my visual palate and my fingertips. I wondered how anyone could compress such a vast range of styles into such a compact place, but clearly Hazel could do it, and with an effortless grace, too.

She says that she doesn’t take inspiration from trends, as she says personal style is a lot more important. She chooses her collections based on her own eye, and she always likes to have a little bit of everything in the store so she can please a wide range of people.  This is obviously essential to a country like Singapore, which has an extremely limited fashion industry. If there’s one thing that anyone can notice about our country, it’s the humiliating lack of effort people put into dressing themselves well. Trends are entirely irrelevant to one’s style, and that’s only if they HAVE style. The vast majority of people you see in central Singapore dress according to one style rule: If it’s hot outside, wear flip flops. That’s all you ever really see here, sadly. T-shirts, shorts and flip flops.

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But Hazel is determined to change that. Her greatest pet peeve? “Local girls who dress well ruin it by wearing flip flops. They’re convenient and comfortable, but they just don’t look good!” she laughs. “At least wear sandals or wedges or something!”

What I love about this store is how much pride the owner takes in it. While corporate billionaires are leafing through their millions, galaxies away from the heart and soul of their brand, Hazel is buried right in the centre of it, taking charge of every decision, both big and small (she’s only got 4 staff members who are all part-timers, making this a one-woman mission). With the tireless effort she puts into maintaining the store, it’s safe to say that Green Poppies really is her little baby. She takes pride in not the store’s achievements and finances, but the happiness it brings her as a person and as an owner. Green Poppies isn’t only there to put money in her pocket, it’s to feed her passion. And as a fashionista, who could ask for more?

If you actually got to the bottom of this and read every single word in between; respect, bro.

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phuket photo diary.

A view of the lakeside Golf Course

Lounge Chairs overlooking the lake and the Golf Course.

The view from the poolside.

My reading material for this trip! Marie Claire UK and Instyle UK (both December 2011 issues), "Amelia" by Siobhan Parkinson and 

"The Valley of Secrets" by Charmian Hussey.

Lounge seats overlooking the lake and Golf Course.

 A tiny island near Phi Phi Island, where the James Bond movies were filmed!

 Another gorgeous piece of scenery.

 A few canoes roaming the inland lakes.

 Family photo on the first day of 2012!

 The gorgeous inland lake.

 Look at those puffy clouds!

 Bikini from Victoria's Secret.

After spending six days in Phuket, a wonderful island off Thailand filled with golden beaches and lobster-red tourists, describing my state of mind as rested and rejuvenated is an understatement. Living in such a fast paced city, sometimes I forget the importance of taking a break from schoolwork, friends and commitments and just having quality time with my family in a place I can pretty much call home. Trips to Phuket for the McCoole family are never too eventful, as they're just for all of us to recharge our batteries by floating around in the sea, chilling in our hotel and soaking up the heat. However, we did take a day-long sailing trip where we bobbed around in clear waters and explored inland lakes and caves which had the most stunning, natural rock formations. 
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I hope everyone had a restful winter holiday and a great start to 2012; here's to another year before we set the fireworks off on New Year's Eve all over again!


My Airplane Playlist:
The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel
Houdini - Foster the People
Safe and Sound - Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars
Heart Full of Wine - Angus and Julia Stone
Elephant Gun - Beirut
Folding Chair - Regina Spektor
Costume Party - Two Door Cinema Club
Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons
Miserable at Best - Mayday Parade
Manhattan From the Sky - Kate Voegele
Basic Space - The XX
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After the first round of "10 quick questions" received so much positive feedback from my readers, I've decided to make it a regular monthly feature on my blog. One of my blogging goals for this year is to try and feature and collaborate with as many people as possible, because although blogging is very much a solo mission, it's fun to put a few more heads together and see things from a fresh perspective. 

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This month, Lindsay LeBoyer of The Style Child Blog has kindly agreed to participate in this feature. Lindsay is a high school junior living in New York City, and her blog is an absolute joy to read!

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1) Designer that you think will make a big comeback in 2012: Azzedine Alaia has made an amazing comeback to couture, and I can't wait to see more from him in 2012.

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2) Best present you received this Christmas: The “Dior Couture Patrick Demarchelier” book. It’s beautiful.

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3) Your current favorite food: Blueberries!

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4) One trend that you hope will re-establish itself in 2012: I really hope the midi-hemline sticks around!

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5) Best present you gave this Christmas: I gave my friend a pair of red and white knit socks from J. Crew for Secret Santa.

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6) Book you're currently reading: The Great Gatsby.

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7) Top of your wishlist for next Christmas: A lomography camera, like maybe a fisheye or Holga.

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8) Favorite fragrance: Toss up between Gucci Guilty and Chloe.

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9) One place you hope to visit in your lifetime: There are so many places I hope to visit, but Paris is definitely the top of my list.

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10) If you had to shop at one store for the rest of your life, it would be: Bergdorfs if I had an unlimited budget, but if I was using my own money, probably Zara.

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