fabfad.

 Last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting Fabfad's latest self-manufactured product: the "Wrap it Sassy" top, available in four gorgeous colors; off-white, plum, black and jade. This supersoft, flattering top boasts a 3/4 sleeve and a sexy, low-cut back which promises to amp up any outfit. I particularly loved styling the jade top with a white skirt for a squeaky-clean, Sunday brunch look. We shot at two of Singapore's most picturesque locations to showcase the versatility of the wrap top - Somerset Skate park and all of its graffitied glory, as well as the blue tones lacing the CBD skyline as viewed from Marina Bay Sands. Make sure you check out the "Wrap it Sassy" top when it launches tonight on Fabfad; it's a comfortable, wearable piece in four awesome colors! I had so much fun at the shoot with store owner Rebecca, fellow model Si Hui and photographer Fiona (and the two cute little skaterboys who joined in the shoot for a while!). All photography credits are due to Fiona of Smitten Pixels!

 The tongue-twister brand name was derived from the combination of two words, "Fabulous" and "Fashion." The webstore is lovingly brought to you by Rebecca & S, and aims to bring in high quality, comfortable and cheery clothes for ladies aged 16 to 30 at the most affordable price points. On top of the clothes they bring in from external manufacturers, Fabfad has their own manufactured items under the label "Regalia." 

One more thing - make sure you join in with Fabfad's Facebook Promotion if you'd like to win a $12 e-Voucher for Fabfad! They're generously giving these vouchers away to 5 lucky people, so follow the three simple steps below to try your luck!

1) LIKE "Fabfad" on Facebook here.

2) LIKE and SHARE the Fabfad album "Collection ‪#‎Eighty‬ - Six | Sassy Summer"

3) COMMENT on the album with "I want the $12 eVoucher!" 

The contest ends on the 12th of July (that's tomorrow!) at 12 noon. Winners will be randomly picked (by a program) and will be announced on Facebook on the 12th, before midnight. 

 Check out Fabfad's website, Facebook page, and Twitter!

And stay tuned for their launch tonight at 8pm!
 

This is a sponsored advertorial.

ootd + giveaway!

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bracelet: Lovisa

Shorts + Belt: c/o PiecesofSummer

Top: thrifted/brandless

Rings: H&M

Wedges: Primark

iPhone case: Kate Spade

First outfit post in ages! I really enjoyed shooting with Sophie for the first time - we had the blessing of dry weather, (mostly) empty streets and the quiet backdrop of Orchard Road before the city properly woke up. These were shot right before a delicious brunch at Wild Honey with Kris, which, by the way, is my new go-to place for kick-ass breakfast food for any time of day. I'm glad my horrifically painful and hideous sunburn situation didn't show up too much in these pictures, and for those of you who follow me on Twitter, I'm sure you've heard enough about my current state of being an aloe-vera drowned lobster. I'm getting better though! I got this blouse for a ridiculously cheap price during my weekend trip to Bangkok a couple weekends ago, and while I could've downplayed the tropical prints with some denim or hushed accessories, I decided to liven it up with even more... Crayola colors (literally only word I can think of right now - someone get me a coffee). With electric blue wedges, bright green shorts and a striking red bag, this printed blouse is given a smart, urban update. Prints are traditionally used to liven up an outfit, but "outdoing" printed garments with colors and accessories that are bigger and better might just be my new style motto. I'll probably whisk this featherlight blouse away with me on my next beach vacation to wear as a cover-up, but who says prints always have to take the spotlight?

Last but not least, thanks so much for 700+ on Instagram! I Instagrammed about this giveaway on Monday so thanks for the overwhelming number of entries that have flooded in already! Win this versatile piece of arm candy from Lovisa, one of my favorite new places to shop for accessories! Its segments are threaded with elastic for a more comfortable fit, and I adore its texture, which adds a great touch to such a classic, wearable piece. 

Keen to enter? Two steps:

1) Follow me on Instagram (@veenamccoole)

2) Drop an email with your contact details and the subject line "Lovisa Bracelet Giveaway" to veena@seveninchstilettos.com

This international giveaway closes on the 20th of April at midnight (Singapore time), and the winner will be selected randomly, contacted by email and asked to provide a screenshot of their "follow" via email. If the winner doesn't respond within 24 hours, then I'll pick someone else to win this great prize! Also, I'm open to suggestions for future giveaways. Drop me an email or inbox me on Tumblr if you've got any ideas you'd like to share!

lomography!

With a delicious potluck feast, walls lined with funky cameras and hipsters aplenty, Lomography Singapore's 20th Anniversary Party was the perfect way to kickstart my weekend with the ever-lovely Zack. Admittedly, such an event wasn't exactly a fashion blogger's stomping ground, and given my lack of proficiency with cameras/electronic devices in general, I felt a tad out of place, but I got up and did the macarena anyway and then I made friends and ate lots of cake. My knowledge about photography doesn't even exceed Instagram, but I can't deny my love for the lightweight, colorful cameras and the one-of-a-kind effects that they bestow on photographs of any kind. Meerly Wang, Managing Director of Lomography Singapore, was lovely enough to have a chat with Zack and I; she named the fish-eye lens as her all-time favorite and recommended the "La Sardina" camera for rookies like myself - so who knows, maybe I'll start my photography career with Lomography soon!

burma | photo diary by sid.

 If there's one thing I love alongside my obvious obsessions with fashion and writing, it's definitely traveling. Seeing new places and breathing new air energizes me in a way I can't even describe. During my fifteen short years of life, I've been lucky enough to experience both coasts of the United States, ski down snow-carpeted mountains in Japan, bike alongside the tree-lined Lake Geneva, lounge on the golden beaches of Thailand, hike through untouched valleys in the Himalayas, dance in some of the best studios in London and drive a campervan across New Zealand's South Island. My parents share the belief that money is best spent on experiences as opposed to material things, as experiences can never be taken away from you and foster memories that'll last you a lifetime. While "experiences over material things" might not be the greatest thing for a clothing-obsessed girl to deal with, it's actually something I completely agree with. All the times I have been abroad have marked some of the happiest periods of my existence, for there's really nothing more refreshing than to break away from the daily routine you're trapped in and trust that your subsequent ventures will challenge your mind, sharpen your perspective and open your heart.

All these brilliant photographs were taken by my talented friend Sid during his recent trip to Burma. I've never been to the less-developed parts of Asia such as Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam, but my lack of experience in those places only fuels my thirst to visit them; to witness a medley of new cultures, taste their weird and wonderful delicacies, meet the faces and the souls that shape the country and hear the authentic beat of a new nation. In fact, looking at these photographic masterpieces brings my mind to a good place; I feel myself piecing together fragments of inspiration and forming a moodboard in my mind!

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What do you think of these pictures? Have you ever been to Burma?

simplicity.

 A shapeless silhouette in a snowy hue, complete with a modest hemline and beautifully braided straps - this is just about as simple as it gets. A gift from my mother, this humble LWD has rooted itself firmly in the depths of my closet, and is definitely here to stay. With simplicity comes versatility, and I can only begin to imagine the infinite clothing combinations I could concoct with this hushed canvas of a dress. Although this isn't quite the ivory statement a la Alexander Wang SSRTW13, it's definitely a piece that can be easily manipulated to inspire a medley of looks. This time round, the dress spoke for itself in all its innocence, and was complemented with natural makeup, a refreshing lack of accessories and gloriously bare feet. As for the next time I decide to take this dress out for a not-so-voluminous spin, I'll definitely don a leather jacket, a pair of chunky boots and a skinny belt for good measure.

Many thanks to local freelance photographer Jess Gomes-Ng for the wonderful 

shoot - be sure to check out her facebook page!

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What's your newest wardrobe staple? What do you think of LWDs?

ladakh 2012 - eighteen days at altitude.

I still can't believe that less than a week ago I was at an altitude of 6000m in the Himalayan Mountain region, taking ice cold river showers and sleeping in tents and wearing the most unfashionable hiking gear you will ever see. Now I'm back, safe and sound in the comfort of my own home (back at sea level - no more altitude sickness!), with hot running water on demand, lovely home cooked food and all the luxury of high speed internet. From the 17th of June till the 7th of July, I was lucky enough to travel all the way to the sprawling mountains of India along with 50-60 other people in my grade. We did a huge variety of things and it was one of the best trips I've ever taken. Here's a little bit about what we did:
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1. Lamdon School Homestay

pictures of lamdon school by isabel

Our school has a very close relationship with Lamdon School, the best school in all of Ladakh. With the financial help of our school, Lamdon School has grown from a tiny establishment with a few hundred students to a multi-building campus with an impressive student body of 1800, not to mention the 9 additional satellite campuses of Lamdon School that have been opened around the Ladakh region. Our relationship with Lamdon has always proved to be mutually beneficial in the form of an age-old tradition: the 2 night Homestay. 

My best friend Isabel and I partnered up for this leg of the journey, and we packed our bags  for an experience we'd never forget - yet we knew nothing about. We were posted off to go live with a local Ladakhi family; the family of a Lamdon student! It was such an exciting opportunity and I don't think I've ever been fed so much in my life. We lived in their small but absolutely beautiful house, and our Lamdon buddy Sonam was the loveliest girl ever (see a picture of her AMAZING room below!).

(from left to right): Sonam's mom, Isabel, Sonam, Stanzin (Sonam's sister), and Sonam's cousin

9 Day Markha Valley Trek

At the top of Ganda La Pass (5800m in altitude!), marveling at the priceless view (and taking our shirts off....?!)

view from the trek on day 1 - we had NO idea what we were in for.

on one of the practice hikes around leh, ladakh's capital

one of the beautiful inland lakes, up about 4000m in altitude!

isabel and i having hot chocolate in our tent on day 2 - a freezing morning!

 one of the many stunning views we had - check out those snowcapped peaks!

 kim and i lookin' fly!

 the view that i woke up to (literally; this picture was taken from inside my tent!) on the morning of day 5.

ganda la pass

isabel and i before the trek on day 2!

The 9-day trek through various parts of the Indus Valley and the Markha Valley was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. It required not only a huge amount of physical agility and fitness, but a phenomenal amount of psychological strength. Believe me when I say this: Life during those 9 days became so much easier when I realised that putting a smile on my face and having a positive attitude was half the battle won. We walked for up to 12 hours each day, completely unaware of the weather circumstances we'd have to face on any given day. Ladakhi weather is truly bipolar; it could hail for an hour, stay sunny for lunchtime and then rain until dusk (which it did), and we'd have to be prepared to deal with such huge weather extremes. We walked up mountains and then down again, rolled up our pants to cross rivers (I'm guilty of taking the easy way out and piggybacking some of my larger guy friends!), and in a certain extreme circumstance, we even got down on our asses and slid down a fatal vertical slope. At the end of it, we were all in serious need of a good scrub in a hot shower, a huge meal and a proper bed - and thankfully, that's exactly what we got. 


Being away from the city and all it's superficial distractions for 18 days was more cleansing and refreshing than I ever imagined. To strip our lives down to the bare minimum and only use/take what we really need left all of us a great deal more humble, more content, and more appreciative of the immense luxuries that are readily available to us at home. I never thought I'd say that not showering for 9 days straight would be beneficial in any way, but I learned so much during our time in Ladakh and the memories I made there will stay with me for the rest of my life.
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Hope everyone's having a beautiful summer!

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