cobalt blue.

Be it celebrity style, recurring details on the runway or simply what you see on the street, the thing about trends that really irks me is the fact that it can sometimes put a huge limit on the colors deemed "stylish" in your wardrobe. While I understand fluorescents are hardly the hues of choice for winter and black funeral shrouds are never really "in" for summer, I don't think trends of any sort should have the right to dominate your decisions when it comes to color. One of my favorite things about putting together a colorful outfit is having the freedom to play with contrast and mood, regardless of the weather or season. There's nothing more refreshing than donning a color-blocked scarf in the dead of winter; color is an excellent way to liven up any outfit, be it workwear, formal-wear or lazy-Sunday-wear and my current favorite is cobalt blue. 

In my opinion, this electric hue is best suited to bold, geometric pieces such as statement cut-out heels and patent crossbody bags.There's nothing more chic than cobalt blue apparels slashed with neat, geometric doses of its equally powerful color-counterparts, namely tangerine/vermillion. Adding a punchy color to a head-turning accessory: that's real power-dressing for you! To lessen the "impact" of the color on its own is an equally gorgeous way to wear cobalt blue: in a print! The sharp blazer on the top left shows the color set in a soft pattern, and the iPhone case demonstrates just how effective the modern color is at giving ethnic prints such as ikat a futuristic update. 

Given how perfect of a backdrop cobalt blue provides for metallic accents and details, another effective way to wear the color is with a classy dose of metal. Simple studded/toe-cap flats fulfil this perfectly, as do geometric pops of color set in a gold chain or silver cuff. It's the harmonious marriage of edgy and trendy, and unlike other brighter colors, it's definitely something that can be pulled off by women of any age. 

What do you think of this great color? 

pashma.

A leading global retailer in luxury linen, cashmere and silk resortwear and the first (in the whole world!) to print on cashmere, Pashma has grown exponentially since it's inception in 1998 by design extraordinaire Shilu Kumar. As well as featuring a colorful, eclectic variety of lightweight scarves, shawls and ready-to-wear items, Pashma's range also extends to accessories, winterwear, home and travel items, all of which are produced in limited, exclusive quantities.  

Despite retailing in over 2000 stores across 40 countries, this humble label keeps close to its Indian roots in Ladakh, Changthang and New Delhi. What really resonated with me during my visit to the Pashma showroom (courtesy of Heat Branding!) was hearing about Pashma's social side. The brand has established concrete roots with the Changpa people residing in Changthang village, who are the meticulous hands behind the exceptional-quality cashmere that sets Pashma apart from the rest. As well as providing them with 5,000 changra goats just last year, Pashma has helped the Changpa people secure stable sources of income by buying the rare cashmere at suitable market prices, as opposed to the below-market prices that were previously paid by other businesses.

 Furthermore, Pashma's production process is limited exclusively to India, honoring the ethnicity of the designer and the source of the fabrics, as well as cutting transportation costs. All manufacturing is done under one roof in New Delhi, where the hand-spun cashmere is brought to watercolored life under rigorous quality control. Head designer and founder Shilu Kumar has 10 vastly capable designers under her, who also oversee the manufacturing process to ensure their visions are accurately, ethically and meticulously conveyed from paper to Pashma. The brand also showcased their more high-end capsule collection "Petanu" at Milan Fashion Week last year, which was undoubtedly a huge success. "Petanu" features vibrantly printed kaftans in light silk cashmere, flowy silhouettes printed with abstract textures, and an exotic palette of bold summer hues.

Pashma first opened its doors in Singapore 4 years ago, and has now expanded to four locations islandwide: two in Changi Airport (T2 and T3), an island boutique in the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, and their flagship store at Raffles Shopping Arcade, tucked into the quaintness of the Raffles Hotel. Be sure to check out Pashma's gorgeous items, priced from SGD$200-$2000!