why perfume is the best thing ever.

Those of you who know me well will know that I have an uncontrollable obsession with perfume. Last year, my best friend in the UK mailed me a box filled with miniature perfumes (and appropriately lined with bubblewrap) that she used to collect/use, most of which were at least half full. On the rare occasion Mother Dearest is on a plane and in a good mood (those two things rarely occur simultaneously), she might purchase a small bottle of perfume for me from Singapore Airline's well-stocked KrisShop catalogue. My lovely boyfriend got me a set of 5 Jo Malone miniatures for Christmas, and another close family friend treated me to Bvlgari's Omnia Amethyst. I am a huge perfume junkie, because there are so many reasons to love perfume.

some of my all-time faves!

Perfume has the power to make or break your outfit and your impression. Scent is a powerful thing; too much, too little, or the wrong scent altogether can have surprisingly adverse effects. I once sat next to someone at a fashion show who was conservatively dressed, well-mannered and had beautiful, understated eye makeup - and reeked of cheap Playboy cologne. Enough said. Selecting a scent is similar to selecting an outfit - it reflects who you are and should communicate what you wish to portray yourself to the world as.

some more of my favorite fragrances!

It makes SUCH a great gift for a close girlfriend or someone you know well. It's so much fun to stroll through the perfume section of any department store to sniff out the best concoction for someone you care about - especially if you're familiar with their scent preferences! Think of it as identifying the perfume equivalent of your friend... Is she flowery and light or intense and dark? Best results when a different girlfriend accompanies you on this excitable quest for the perfect fragrance.

Images sourced from here, here and here

Perfume bottles are among the most beautiful things in this world. I never throw away empty perfume bottles because I believe they are so well-crafted and ornate enough to double as lovely-smelling decorations (I love to sandwich pink/gold perfume bottles in between my coffee table books on a shelf in my room for aesthetic effect), especially the ones with carefully laser-cut finishes that reflect light.

Images sourced from here, here, here and here

Lastly, as shallow as this may sound, perfume is an easy way to own something from your favorite designer. While a teenage girl like me can't exactly get her hands on Dior's runway pieces, she can probably save up for a bottle of Miss Dior Cherie. To be perfectly honest, I'm very rarely label-conscious when it comes to dressing; I'm not embarrassed to wear Forever 21/thrift because I don't believe that price tags dictate style. That being said, it's nice to have a small "token" item from the same designer who's runway presentations you gawk at - be it makeup, phone/laptop cases, or in this case, perfume. Considering I spend hours poring over backstage videos, makeup tutorials, livestreams, reviews and articles of the latest Chanel show, it's certainly a lovely feeling to be able to squirt a little (yet equally legit) delicious-smelling Chanel 'magic' into the air while I live out my fashion dreams behind a computer screen. I might be thousands of miles away from the action, but I'll be holding a bottle of it in my hand. It's nice to feel like a part of something you care about. 

Do you love perfume as much as I do? Let me know what your favorite fragrances are in the comments below!

black bag crazy.

I don't know if this is a nonchalant fashion craze I'll grow out of or if black bags will be my weakness for life, but at this point it doesn't really matter; what matters is that I can no longer look to any other sartorial staple to complete an outfit. Be it a satchel, crossbody purse, clutch, carryall tote or backpack, black is back and it's the easiest and sharpest way to pull together any outfit. Above I've collaged some of my current faves (but there are loads more); basically anything predominantly black with a metallic embellishment that isn't too bling but is enough to add interest and detail. Usually such adornments come in the form of gold logos, which I generally don't permit unless it's Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and in the case of bags and bags only, Michael Kors (please no obnoxious Juicy Couture crests or Gucci - eurgh). I've rambled enough about my ultra-perfect MBMJ Classic Q Karlie bag, but there are plenty of other gorgeous crossbody options such as Lulu Guinness and Proenza which are equally yum (I will never fall out of love with the PS11 and that's a promise for life). Fringe details, studs, geometric zips and quilted leather are perfectly executed on neutral black, which serves to spotlight tactile detail and texture. 

Are you equally in love with black bags? Which are your favorites?

spring 2012 roundup.

The Spring Ready-To-Wear collections are officially out, and I’ve pored eagerly through as many shows as I can stomach. The plethora of fresh spring colors and exciting new trends that each designer exuded with a different twist was truly astounding. The season of Spring is such a wonderful, refreshing change in the fashion world; it’s the long-awaited beginning of flouncy skirts, and the due farewell to thick, heavy winter layers. And you'll be glad to know I’ve graduated from the generic Spring connotations of florals and pastels. Spring in my eyes is now more of an explosion of seething color and graphic, linear dimensions, and this Spring, nobody encompasses that better than Marc Jacobs' widely successful diffusion line: Marc by Marc Jacobs.

I adore the way Marc Jacobs is able to infuse bursts of fun, almost juvenile aspects of fashion into his clothing, while maintaining a polished, put-together look that is signature to his name. He has an amazing eye for color too, and the zingy vermillion hue that's woven through this entire collection couldn't be more... Spring-y. This collection was the perfect combination of loud colors (a la Skittles), interesting necklines and hemlines, androgynous chic and of course, the signature Marc Jacobs preppy flair, that each model is undoubtedly drenched in.

Another brand that never fails to completely blow me way is 3.1 Phillip Lim. I just can't get enough of the preppiness of this brand and how well it complements the season. I'm drooling over all the sportswear-chic looks, the tailored pants, and how almost everything looks like it's been soaked in a bucket of tippex (correction fluid used at school and sniffed by the rebels, in case you ask). The stripes, the mild pastel colors and the light summer fabrics make this collection one to die for.

And here's one last set of my favourite looks from a brand I've never really looked into; J Mendel.
I adore their immaculate use of texture and how soft, wispy day-dresses can add a feminine elegance to a rigid arrangement of electrified color. Some of their prints were really interesting and mosaic-y, and I love the elegance that's just piled on to every look.


And that piece on the far left comprised of a pant-leg and a skirt? Now that's ingenious Spring design for you right there; plain and simple.

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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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