july's lovely links!

Hello lovelies! I've decided to introduce a new bi-monthly segment on my blog called "lovely links," where I'll share 5 particularly interesting/entertaining articles that I've dug up on the internet, ranging from interesting current affairs to fashion headlines, my favorite visual inspiration sites to miscellaneous must-reads. Suggestions for links to publish can be sent to my email here! I hope you enjoy leafing through these online finds of mine, and I'd love to hear what you think of them!


1. Thought Catalog: 11 Things You Should Stop Apologizing For

For a nice pick-me-up and a refreshed insight on how important it is to be comfortable in your own skin/shoes/”kindergartener” clothing, check out Thought Catalog’s “11 Things You Should Stop Apologizing For,” written to giggle-inducing effect by Rachel Collins.

 2. www.mapcrunch.com

Possibly the best website ever invented. I’ve unknowingly wasted hours on this site, travelling to the most far-flung places in a fashion that’s really quite captivating and realistic, albeit 2D and virtual. If you’re full of wanderlust, this is the place to go. If you’re not full of wanderlust, this is also the place to go. Traverse our beautiful planet from wherever you’re sitting right now, and I promise it’ll leave you smiling.

 

3. Rookie Mag: Hot Fun in the Summertime

This splendid visual diary includes some beautiful photoshoot pictures from Tokyo, taken in “the city’s oldest amusement park.” Classically photographed with a film camera (either that or the pictures are damn well edited), these nostalgic snapshots are perfect to flick through when you’re in need of inspiration of a more intricate, perceptive and sustained calibre, or if you just feel like reveling in the wonderful fact that summer is really and truly and finally and actually upon us!

4. www.angelsfortalia.com

One of the most influential and inspiring young stars in the media, 13 year old Talia Castellano was battling two forms of cancer for a total of 6 years and sadly passed a few days ago. Thousands of people followed this lively, beautiful little girl’s life in and out of the hospital through her Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube updates, and now that she is resting in peace, we can all reflect on her vibrant, successful 13 years of life and learn a little from her unfailing resilience, strength and positivity in the face of absolutely awful circumstances.

5. Fashionista: Where are the American Haute Couture Designers?

A well-written, easy read on a subject matter I haven’t quite looked into but is of astonishing importance. True, Rei shows at Ready-to-Wear, and true, as much as we’d love Proenza Schouler Couture, we couldn’t ever afford it. An excellent reinforcement of the nature of the industry as well as a sophisticated, informative address of an issue that could pose a threat to the American fashion industry’s staying power in future generations.

Enjoy! 

(images sourced from their respective links)

melissa x karl lagerfeld.

 As weird as this sounds, Melissa shoes smell SO good. Next time you're walking through the shoe department and get a delicious whiff of something fruity, look around you and I guarantee you'll see Melissa shoes within a close enough radius for you to make a detour and check their shoes out - which are as awesome as they smell. They are made entirely of plastic, and therefore are 100% waterproof, lightweight, super comfortable and recyclable. All Melissa shoes are made in Brazil where the label hails from, and this brand is known most for its numerous collaborations with some of the most famed names in the industry such as Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, and Alessandra Ambrosio, to name a few. This event, held at Mohammed Sultan Road, was celebrating the launch of yet another exciting collaboration (and easily my favorite): Melissa Shoes x Karl Lagerfeld! 

The collaboration consists of two pairs of heels and two flats, my favorite of which has got to be the Melissa Incense (ice cream heels!). The Melissa team were generous enough to gift all event attendees a pair of complimentary shoes of their choice, and I'm sure you can guess which I picked! I wore these gorgeous shoes while hosting Sogurt's 3rd Anniversary Bash- they fitted perfectly with Sogurt's image of a sweet, fruity and fun destination! Karl Lagerfeld seems to have taken a recent liking to industry-darling Cara Delevigne (as if she isn't plastered all over the fashion industry enough, not surprising since she fronted the dynamic, bubblegum-colored campaign video. Karl Lagerfeld's four piece collaboration collection comprises of modern reinvention of four classic Melissa shoe designs. Here's a further look into fashion's favorite silver-haired star's collaboration with the Brazilian shoe label:

Melissa Ginga x Karl Lagerfeld
Paying homage to Melissa's country of origin by utilizing the colors of the Brazilian flag, Lagerfeld achieves a contrasting masterpiece of curvy striped detailing and a bold square front. Available in four fun color combinations - I'd have to say my favorites are the two variations in the centre!

Melissa Glam x Karl Lagerfeld
The pointy-toed flat is a timeless Melissa staple that appears in almost every collaboration, and Karl has added his own clean, minimalistic spin to the design by adding three clear hemispheres to punctuate the front of the shoe. Office-appropriate, weekend-appropriate and very comfortable - what's not to love?

Melissa Incense x Karl Lagerfeld
What better way is there to spice up an outfit than adding a sparkly ice-cream to it? Lagerfeld takes a bold risk with this fun accent, which spruces up a classic pump by volumes. The white variation might be easily matched with other pastel brights, but the glossy black option is perfect to complete a night-out ensemble. 

Melissa Melissima x Karl Lagerfeld
The ultimate cross-section of functionality, comfort and chic - this medium height shoe boasts a double strap and comes in muted colors, both glossy and matte. Powerfully feminine and full of contemporary elegance; Karl Lagerfeld is certainly no stranger to those elements of design!

the delicious mini burgers served at the event | my outfit of the day | some props on the pop-up stage!

Melissa's "CineMelissa" FW13 collection bears a strong resemblance to the world of movies and theatre, and is divided into segments named after major movie genres: Action, Comedy, Drama and Romance. With distinct color palettes, quirky details and a promise of a cinematic happy ending, these iconic shoes inspired by the silver screen are bold, creative and lots of fun.

Collaborations for Melissa's FW13 collection are in full swing, with Jason Wu, J.Maskrey, Campana Brothers and Walt Disney back with new, refreshing designs. Commendable additions to the Melissa family include great new studded pieces, creepers which give a nod to WW2 London pub culture and mid-height chunky heels.

The Formula-One inspired flats in various black and white patterns on the far left are adorable!

The event was dotted with the cutest celebrity lookalikes decked out in Melissa footwear too - try and guess who these ones are! They were so much fun to take pictures of (and with!) and added a great dynamism to the event.

What do you think of Melissa shoes and the Melissa Shoes x Karl Lagerfeld collaboration, which is set to be welcomed again for another 4 seasons?

harper's bazaar fashion film festival.

Although the term "festival" doesn't exactly describe the four-day movie marathon held by Harper's Bazaar Singapore, it was certainly a very enjoyable experience. From October 26-30, a total of 10 fashion films were showcased around theatres in Singapore. Now we're not talking about anything mainstream, so forget "The Devil Wears Prada" and "The September Issue." All the films were shown only once or twice, making this experience even more special and exclusive. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend one of these movie-screenings; a homegrown, privately produced set of footage called "Signe Chanel." 


Signe Chanel is only one of writer/director Loic Prigent's many achievements. In fact, most of the other films in the Festival were created and produced by him, such as "The Day Before" series, which provide a compact insight into the dynamic world and artistic process of a designer and his brand; one day before a big fashion show. Loic Prigent's work is so artisanal and poignant, and the innocence of a small camera crew and simple graphics adds such charm to his short films. He has an extraordinary talent for capturing the lives of designers at work through his lens, as well as subtly hinting the brutal honesty of what really goes on underneath the glamour and sterility of the catwalk. Some of Prigent's other films include "The Day Before" of Donatella Versace, Alexander Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Proenza Schouler, as well as a seperate documentary about Marc Jacobs, the first American director at Louis Vuitton.

Signe Chanel was the most interesting, enthralling movie. There was no storyline; it was so beautifully unstructured that it almost seemed to wander around and loiter here and there, moseying through the intricate world of a Haute Couture House. It illustrated Chanel's perfect preservation of their heritage and of their age-old traditions with such stunning simplicity, and I can't tell you how much my heart melted to see the plump french seamstresses singing and busying themselves in their attic workshop in France, the place they've called home for decades. It was thoroughly refreshing to see the world's most exclusive, beautiful clothing coming to life in the caring hands of talented individuals, as opposed to being replicated thousands of times by machines, packed up and shipped to all corners of the world. 


As much as the movie touched me with it's primitive nature and abundance of creativity, it also demonstrated the stark contrast between the limited, rural production of the clothing, and the fast-paced, glittering craziness of the fashion industry. I found it very hard to believe that the Karl Lagerfeld who sat down in the workshops and advised the seamstresses is the same person who frequently flocks back to his front row perch at every fashion show you can possibly name. Although he is by all means a creative genius, he's much too reserved and secretive for my liking, much like Anna Wintour. Well, you know what they say about the true artists of our world: they're all tortured souls.


Much love, pumpkins.

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