melrose medley.

There are now so many blogshops out in Singapore's blogshop scene, from independent livejournal sites to stand-alone mass retailers. Melrose Medley falls between those two extremes in a sort of happy medium - big enough to make a statement, but small enough to stay unique. I'm so excited to be featuring them on Seven Inch Stilettos - they house the greatest selection of exclusively handpicked apparels from all over Asia, featuring designs that are modern, stylish and effortless ("reflecting the personality of our shoppers!" owner Cynthia says). Melrose Medley's product line includes dresses, various tops and bottoms, and also accessories such as statement necklaces and earrings to complete your look. Suitable for work and play, these quality pieces boast a universal appeal with their vibrant prints and versatile designs. New items are launched bi-weekly on their site, www.melrosemedley.com, and the team are currently working on their own manufactured label featuring one-of-a-kind designs, so look out for that coming soon! Melrose Medley ships worldwide and offers free local non-registered mailing all year round - as if you needed another good reason to shop there!

dress: c/o melrose medley

heels: mango

blazer (on arm): mae pang

crossbody bag: c/o kristine's collection

earrings + bracelet: lovisa

Here are a couple snaps of me wearing Melrose Medley's First Crush Chiffon Dress (which is unfortunately sold out!) at work the other day. It's comfortable, light and flattering on most body types, and I love details on the back of the dress as well! It's one of those key pieces that every girl needs to have in her wardrobe; its conservative neckline and length makes it as suitable for family gatherings as it is for a weekend brunch with the girls, and of course, as its name suggests: a day out with the first crush! I paired it with heels for both elevated height and sophistication, but this dress can be easily worn with flats and combined with a flowy printed kaftan for a more beachy, resort feel and a pop of color. It also has a versatile Grecian-goddess appeal thanks to the creamy color and the style of the neckline - what's not to love? And these were hardly "posed" phone shots; I was actually sending an email. Photos by John the streetpeeker!

And before I forget, for those of you who prefer to shop in brick-and-mortar stores to get a physical feel of what you're buying, Melrose Medley has just opened a rack space at Creme De La Creme, located at Changi City Point (#01-49). This rack will feature an amazing selection of unreleased items, so be sure to check it out!



What do you think of Melrose Medley? Visit their website, Facebook and Instagram for more updates and sneak peeks!

This is a sponsored advertorial.

wisteria.

 With an adorable collar and a romantic lace overlay, this feminine piece is sure to make you feel princess-y!

 The super-versatile Kelly dress is simple and has such cute shoulder detailing, definitely not to miss!

 This adorable number in a summery, pastel hue is a must-have in any girl's wardrobe!

Lace and peplum are definitely a match made in heaven, and I'm such a sucker for that beautiful royal blue color!

Dress up in style with Wisteria!

Wisteria’s eclectic series of affordable and quality apparels are perfect for everything, really: work, school and play. With a new collection launched every week, there are plenty of colors and designs to choose from! Wisteria's versatile designs also allow you to take the same piece from day to night with just a simple change of accessories. It's always tough to strike a balance between quantity and quality; we all want LOADS of clothes that wear well, yet often times our wallets only allow for either a) one or two high quality pieces, or b) a huge handful of not-so-lasting apparels. With Wisteria, you don't have to worry about making that choice: their low prices ensure you can shop for good-quality clothing to your heart's content without a trace of guilt! Look fabulous, fashion-forward, and still have some cash left over... to shop Wisteria's next collection, of course! My favorite pieces in this collection have got to be the Vera dress, Anne dress and Belle dress. Click through on each of the names to see more pictures! 

 
Stay updated with the latest news and promotions by joining Wisteria's mailing list (follow them on Instagram at @shopwisteria as well!) and visit their Facebook page for a chance to win some Wisteria shopping vouchers too!  

And here's a treat just for my lovely readers: use the discount code "VEENA5%" at the Wisteria checkout for an exclusive 5% discount off your entire purchase!

So what are you waiting for?! Shop Wisteria now! 

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paper crown | fall 2012

{images from paper-crown.com}

I was extremely skeptical of LC's new clothing line Paper Crown when it launched it's first debut collection in Fall 2011 - I immediately brushed it off as a run-of-the-mill Kardashian stunt; a celebrity dabbling in numerous industries and succeeding merely because of their wealth/celebrity status. However, after a further look into the collection, a browse on her gorgeous website laurenconrad.com (which strikes a perfect balance between earnest fashion blogger and hairflicky celebrity) and a read of her personal wardrobe tips&tricks book entitled "Style," I quickly dismissed all the superficial impressions I had of her. She really is a hard-working young entrepreneur, and although she has the luxury of wealth and an impressive resume of star-studded experience, her work really does speak for itself - and for a 26 year old, she's succeeded tremendously in countless fields of the fashion and entertainment industries. She started off doing bits and bobs; guest-judging on ANTM Cycle 13, being named the first official spokesperson of beauty brand mark., doing cameo appearances on popular sitcoms, and landing a role on MTV's hit series The Hills. Clearly the decision of only a prudent, business-savvy individual, Lauren took a break from most of the aforementioned projects such as representing other brands, and armed with her extensive experience, she began one of her own. 

To start off with, Paper Crown is just such a perfect name, I can't get over how many wonderful connotations it has. It's not trashy, excessive teen royalty a la Juicy Couture, nor is it literal royalty for the refined, pantsuit-donning millionaire mama. It's a crown made of paper; it's almost a juvenile perception and interpretation of the elite few that the fashion industry seems to constantly strive to impress. It almost feels like child's play - an endless exploration of fashion, dimension, design, color and aesthetic. It's a wonderfully dynamic yet sugary-sweet concept, and it reminds me very much of one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs: "Long Live." 

 ~

"We are the kings and the queens, you traded your baseball cap for a crown."

"I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you."

"Cause for a moment a band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world."

 ~

(full lyrics here - please read/listen to the song if you haven't already done so, you seriously won't regret it!)

Okay so I got a little carried away; it's really only the first song lyric (bolded) that is relevant to the whole "crown" theme, but the whole song is full of nostalgia for younger days - when everything seemed conquerable and manageable and life was so full of restlessness and sheer moments of victory, however small. The same theme of childlike innocence and sense of infinite success and capability is reflected in Paper Crown's gorgeous Fall 2012 collection; the vast range of styles and trends reflected in so few looks is truly mind-blowing. From voluminous dresses to everyday shifts smothered in pretty bows, this collection expertly retains a playful sense of childhood and relaxation while maintaining a high street appeal, thanks to the versatile, million-dollar color scheme (brick red, muted mocha and light cream, definitely a yes). As well as having a cosy, homewear side to it (think Zara/H&M basics), the collection definitely proves compatible with a chic city-hopper too; the shift dresses and floral button-downs are very Marks and Sparks!

Yeah, and we thought Lauren Conrad's reign would end after The Hills drew to a close. Apparently she's only just found her crowning glory.

elie saab.

 Whenever I read that name on a page of a glossy magazine, delightful images of sumptuous fabrics and princessy dresses whirl through my head. Elie Saab's designs are the definition of class, elegance and timeless style, and his silhouettes are strictly feminine and complement the feminine figure effortlessly. His Spring 2011 RTW collection consisted of 56 delicious ensembles - it was so difficult to pick my favorites to post on here!

His collection definitely proved to be a success, no different from every single one of his previous shows. The variety within the collection was truly breathtaking, consisting of clean cut blazers, micro dress shorts, voluptuous chiffon dresses and slinky silk cocktail togas. Elie's work is always full of intricate, microscopic detail, and this collection was no exception.