quiz | what's your fall style?

1. My favorite season is:

a) Winter

b) Fall

c) Summer

2. I would describe my style as:

a) Feminine - I love layering!

b) Geometric - I like playing with shapes and tailoring.

c) Celebrity inspired - I keep my outfits edgy and on-trend.

3. ______ matters most to me.

a) Being comfortable and warm

b) Looking classy and professional

c) Standing out

4. My favorite accessories are:

a) A wool-blend hat or soft scarves

b) A couple of versatile geometric, statement accessories

c) Every single bracelet/necklace/ring I own

5. My favorite color palette has to be:

a) neutral lights, such as cream, white, grey and tan.

b) muted hues, such as brick red, navy blue and forest green.

c) fluorescents and brights, with lots of neon and ombre.

6. My go-to piece in my wardrobe:

a) My woolly cardigan

b) My tailored blazer

c) My ripped jeans

If you chose mostly a's:

Silky soft layers in creamy hues are reminiscent of winter's powdery beds of snow and are perfect for those more inclined to pursue a "comfortable-chic" look. Muted tones like the ones pictured above don't leave much room for error, and can be easily layered to suit the temperature or your mood. A favorite of mine has got to be that aztec-printed woolly - the shapelessness of it would go so well with a pair of equally flattering skinny jeans!

If you chose mostly b's:

 Step up the edginess with architectural heels, fitted blazers, tailored shorts and studded loafers. While you're going crazy with dimension, shape and form, make sure you keep a good balance by skipping out on colors that are too extreme. Ditch the vermillion and opt for a brick red, and who needs electric blue jeans when you've got an effortless pair of acid-washed ones? Next time you're out for some retail therapy, opt for the accessories rack instead and pick up some statement bracelets/geometric necklaces!

If you chose mostly c's:

Your wardrobe is best defined as a disorderly explosion of color and eclectic finds, regardless of whether you picked them up from Fendi or a flea market. Sometimes the most unexpected color combinations wind up being the best, and you're definitely not afraid to take that risk! Get your hands on as many printed pieces as you can, stir things up with a colorful ombre top, and finish with white-hot Docs for a winning ensemble. 

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.

~

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

#AFF2012 part 3: roland mouret.

Roland Mouret's Fall/Winter collection was packed to the brim with all things wonderful: cool sorbet hues, sophisticated peplum separates, and some of the most ingenious tailoring I have ever seen. I particularly enjoyed the mash-up of menswear-inspired, tailored outerwearand feminine, pastel shift dresses.Seeing this collection right before my eyes (from the third row!) during the Audi Fashion Festival might have left me a little biased, but this collection will forever resonate in my mind as proof that an array of simple pieces can really make an impact.

For an under-ten-minute long show, the collection ticked a LOT of boxes. From effortlessly simple shift dresses to fur-topped pastel hued outfits, every ensemble that was sent down the runway possessed something from the greater scope of things; at least one recurring element drawn from Mouret’s initial inspiration. In other words, there were no “filler” pieces just to pass the time; each ensemble was brutally conciseand adhered firmly to a set of motifs, fabrics, colors and tailoring styles to create a solid collection with a strong aesthetic identity. I’ve picked out a few of my favourite trends within this collection and collaged them below:

I love the interesting architectural quality of the crossover-neck. 

Think of it as a scarf, I guess. With a bolder “twist.” (pun intended!)

Voluminous fur, meet sorbet hues and pastel peplum. Probably one of the most unexpected combinations in this collection, but definitely a favorite of mine. There’s actually nothing cuter than a peek of peplum or a flap-pocket underneath a huge ball of fur (that somehow manages to still look chic). Roland, I don’t know how you do it.

Another fabulous highlight of the collection – a succulent abundance of masculine tailoring in various forms: fitted, slouchy, or tweaked to look girly. The angularshoulders and no-fuss colors made ‘borrowing from the boys’ something we ladies should contemplate doing more often.

This is the part where the girls bring out their scissors, needle-and-thread and pastel colored dye; menswear is about to get a whole new look. Whoever thought muted, manly office-wear could be so intimately related with such gloriously girly confections? Along with his fantabulous team of seamstresses, Mouret has managed to whip up a plethora of different neckline designs for each ensemble. While the peplum dress on the extreme right boasts pleated puffy shoulders, the electric-white pantsuit next to it (center right) has a lovely loose fit but a wide, creased shoulder to raise the bar. The blue ensemble (centre left) possesses a delicately folded bust and shoulder, reminiscent of the elegant Japanese paper-folding art form: origami.

Another super-great thing (gosh, I could go on forever gushing about my love for this collection) about Mouret’s AW2012 line is that it sticks to an exclusive color palette, which is echoed and recreated through the whole collection in ways that really did make my jaw drop. Take that shapeless lemony frock paired with knee-high boots, for instance. Gorgeous color, light fabric, and the ruched shoulders and crinkled neckline are super feminine. Now, on the far right we have another ensemble featuring the stunning fluorescent hue. A restructured, slouchy take on the modern blazer, this unusually long piece of outerwear is equipped with lethally tailored broad shoulders, and a sharp pair of pants to match. And there you have it, a floaty, DVF-esque dressand a sleeveless, slouchy blazer-type-thing-which-still-qualifies-as-super-cool, both coated in the same, delicious color. Roland Mouret is definitely one to conjure up ingenious juxtapositions of his own designs (and present them within the same collection), which give every collection of his an authentic feel. 

Sorry that this post was months late (AFF was ages ago), I totally forgot about it but I still really wanted to share it. Hope you enjoyed!

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xx v.

#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.

~

 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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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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chilly mornings, ragged androgyny and pumpkin soup.

I'm too lazy to credit these pictures, they're all from tumblr and therefore are the intellectual property of all hipsters present on the aforementioned site.

As I watch temperatures across the globe slowly creep down the thermostat, the rest of the world seems to be drifting into a dormant, chilled state. I feel so restless here in Singapore; it's monsoon (rainy) season and as the days drag on it's getting harder and harder to pretend like the rain slamming down on my roof is snow (or something equivalent to that exciting extent).

So, to compensate for my uncontrollable wanderlust which is only aggravated by this upcoming festive season, I have handpicked a few pictures off tumblr which best describe my awkward craving for freezing weather, woolly layers, ugg boots that bulge with fluff and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Enjoy, my darlings.

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fall: denim & nude.

Fall has always struck me as being the most beautiful time of year. So many new colors seem to squeeze their way onto Nature's paint palette, from the subtle reddish glow of the leaves to the intensity of the sky, streaked heavily with luminous, fiery hues. It's also a great time of year because the weather isn't too unforgiving yet, so you can still flaunt your Fall wardrobe pieces without worrying about bulging thermal layers, goosebumps, and those unsightly earmuff/balaclava things.


To me, Fall is also the most polished month of the year in terms of style; it's the time when preppy trenches and chocolate-colored boots make their long awaited debut after hibernating for a year. Although I do love the rawness of the loose tribal cardies and moccasins you see in many Fall collections, I think a more put-together look such as the ones above in "Denim and Nude" tend to work better. I adore the combination of Denim and Nude because of how seamless it looks. The deep, prussian-blue shade of denim against the rich consistency of camel-colored leather. Your favorite acid-wash, faded cut-offs teamed with that beige boyfriend knit. Sound good? Yeah, thought so. And as Stella McCartney said, "there is something so sensual about nude with denim." It's classy, chic, and won't leave you freezing your ass off on a cold day either. 


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fall '10: matchy-matchy.

Athough this Trend Report is a little late (Fall 2010), I absolutely ADORED this, so I felt the need to post something about it. While looking around on Style.com, I came across Oscar De La Renta's classy, stunning ensemble of luscious navy in the form of a mannish coat and dainty, modest tights. The mini skirt adds a touch of simplicity and femininity, as well as balancing out the color scheme of the outfit. The result? Flawless, Exclusive and Timeless: The 'Oscar' Way.


Take a look at some of the ensembles from other designers on the runway this Fall; I can't stop drooling over Bottega Veneta's collection!

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