10qq with yvette.

With a winning smile, looks to kill for and a bubbly personality and charm to match, it's no wonder Australian-Korean beauty Yvette King is taking Singapore's media and fashion industry by storm. Both a model under Cal-Carries and an event host under Beam Artistes, if there's any good fashion happening on the Little Red Dot, you can be sure Yvette King is right in the middle of all of it, either armed with a microphone as a host, or a camera as a blogger at tanjongbazaar.com. With a glamorous sense of style and the friendliest personality amidst her raging success, I sat down with Yvette and asked her some of my most itching questions. Read on to find out more about this host/model/blogger extraordinaire!

1. Favourite beauty product right now: Any kind of moisturizer - my skin just drinks it up! Right now I'm using Nars but I also love Premier Dead Sea.

2. Best piece of advice given to you by your parents: Be free and explore.

3. If you could have one designer item absolutely free right now (it could be anything!), what would you pick? Chanel 2.55 in Caviar. Or a Hermes Kelly... If you're reading this, Chanel or Hermes: Help a girl out!

4. One of your favorite bloggers: Shine By Three.



5. Two things you always have with you: My smile and my phone.

6. Another big interest of yours besides fashion: Surprisingly, football (as in soccer). Fashion and football - what a combination!

7. Your least favorite part about your job: The fact that it's fickle. It's a rollercoaster - one minute you have your dream gig, but it sometimes feels like a fleeting second. Then you need to hustle and get to your next one - and repeat!

8. A movie you'd be happy to watch over and over again: Love Actually!

9. Your culinary vice: Carbs!

10. Your favorite places in Singapore: Club Street or Duxton Hill. I love that the old shophouses are converted into restaurants, cafes and hole-in-the-wall bars.

What do you think of Yvette King's gorgeous sense of style? Check out her website, blog, Twitter and Instagram!

#SPAEspritVIP

Photos (from left to right, row by row):

1. A picture of my afternoon tea: Earl Grey + mini cupcakes!

2. A group shot of all the bloggers/media members who attended the event.

3. Vera (nakedglory) posing with some food!

4. Typical bloggers: taking excessive amounts of pictures of, well, everything.

5. Gorgeous floral arrangements amidst the delicious food!

6. Poppy Dinsey posing with her fan!

7. More flowers + food.

8. Lenne (aetienne) with her choice of tidbits for the afternoon.

9. A red-velvet cupcake selfie with Vera!

Despite the fact that I arrived super late due to school and missed the VIP browhaus treatments (I probably would've chickened out anyway though) and the "create your own shower gel" with the Spa Esprit team, I made it in time for the culinary portion of the event, which is arguably one of the most exciting parts of going to events for a foodie like myself. The event was held at the beautiful House @ Dempsey, which is tucked away amidst lush greenery, perfect for vain photo-takers like myself! 

Aside from the absolutely AMAZING food (I literally ate so much food like wow how embarassing but seriously SO GOOD) we had during Dempsey House's weekly Thursday "Vintage High Tea," it was so nice to sit down with a great bunch of like-minded fashiony people. Meeting Poppy Dinsey, founder of fashion social media site "What I Wore Today" was thoroughly enjoyable too; she's such a sweetheart! Not sure if you can see too clearly in the pictures above, but I wore one of my favorite new dresses from Anthropologie which I bought on my recent trip to New York. You'll definitely see that dress again on the blog, it's going to become my new staple item. I can feel it.

Thanks so much to the folks at Spa Esprit for hosting such a memorable, delicious event!

Congratulations to Mavis Ng for winning the Carlo Rino clutch giveaway! The next giveaway will be held once I hit 700 followers on Instagram! (Giveaways might just be my new favorite hobby).

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. 

a coat for crispy weather.

I hardly ever do outfit posts, but I thought I might as well take advantage of the crisp-y weather and crispier leaves that Kent is abundantly scattered with during this glorious time of year and take some pictures in my new Topshop coat, which was literally my savior throughout my chilly week in the UK. I'm back home in Singapore now and until my next trip to somewhere cool, this coat is sadly of no use to me, but I love it so much I might even get it framed. This was actually the outfit I wore on the plane (minus the coat), so I wasn't exactly rocking the fresh-faced look; it was more of a 12-hour-flights-suck look. This Zara top is one of the few items of clothing I own which my dad has purchased for me (without my presence/immediate consent, that is) - he's not really one for fashion, but he definitely hit gold with this simple striped wonder. He even bought it in the right size! Paired with soft Topshop jeans and my trusty H&M satchel that never leaves my side (and is now sadly falling apart), this outfit was, in a word: easy. No frills or fuss; perfect for anything from long-haul flights to lazy afternoon tea coffee (jetlag must be overcome!) in a tiny British town. 

The first thing I did when I landed? Bought myself a packet of good old British crisps - Walkers, that is. If there's one thing I love about visiting Britain/Ireland, it's getting my hands on a pack of their traditional, timeless crisps. Not chips - crisps.  

future fashion now ss13 | part 1.

 With the whole world moving at the speed of light, having to wait a whole season to get your paws on that gooooorgeous Tory Burch bag isn't only fashion torture, but it's impractical, inefficient, and is probably one of the greatest drawbacks of the industry, although no one ever says so. That's why Future Fashion Now might just be the next greatest thing ever - it empowers consumers to order custom-made looks straight off the runway in real time. Debuting at Singapore's Audi Fashion Festival in May 2012, FFN hopes to lift up emerging designers and bring fashionistas closer to their clothes - thus bridging the gap between customer and designer. FFN made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week this year, and on Wednesday night, they did the whole thing all over again for their supporters on their home turf - all 11 designers packed into three absolutely electric shows:

Show 1: Khoon Hooi (Kuala Lumpur), Esther Perbandt (Berlin), Ong Shunmugam (Singapore) and Elohim by Sabrina Goh (Singapore).

Show 2: Saena (Berlin), Saturday (Singapore), Juma (New York), Jonathan Liang (Paris).

Show 3: Dzojchen (Singapore), Mae Pang (Singapore), Evenodd (Singapore). 

 With beautiful models, fast-paced turnovers, deafening beats and the brightest lights, every single audience member remained thoroughly intrigued for the duration of all three shows. I'd be typing until tomorrow morning if I were to tell you exactly what I thought of every aspect of the event, so I'll split my FFN roundup into three parts - one for each show. 

Khoon Hooi 
 {view the whole collection here}
A vibrant celebration of youthfulness, color and luxury, Khoon Hooi's SS13 ensembles were saturated with texture, femininity and delectable candy-colored embellishments. It struck the perfect balance between demureness and sensuality and effortlessly flattered the female form. By mixing summery prints such as lace and retro florals and layering them with the likes of neutral chiffon and mesh, the collection satisfied a wide array of style preferences and trends. While hemlines were short and mesh overlays were provocative, the neutral backdrop upon which the glitzy sequins resided provided a classy complexion for the more risque aspects of Hooi's imagination to take flight. I especially enjoyed his innovative take on the much overdue peplum trend; by "lacing" the fabric in the same way you lace a shoe (see this lacing on the blue minidress above), he injected a classic, long-term trend with a refreshing update. He manipulated silhouettes with the unique use of ornamental organza flowers, usually in a muted, matte gold color. These twirly floral additions were placed at the waist, hips and occasionally the shoulders, and succeeded as the perfect summery touch for a very modern collection. Each of the zips were decorated with a thick bunch of black tassels, serving as a subtle defining feature of Hooi's work - tres cute, if you ask me! Streamlined mustard pantsuits, T-strap dresses and brocade motifs created by coral-colored sequins were definite standouts, and although the sex appeal was another bonus, the low cut dresses and barely-there backs could've easily resulted in a nip-slip or two. Or four. Nevertheless, from sequin-smothered shift dresses to luxuriously shapeless maxis, Hooi's creations ticked all the boxes of what a successful Spring/Summer collection should be.

Esther Perbandt 
 {view the whole collection here}
(apologies for the lack of runway pictures, Camilla and I were undergoing some technical difficulties with the camera during Esther Perbandt's show!)

With an evident penchant for fabric deconstruction and subsequent re-construction, Perbandt's belief in the power of fabric is evident through the lack of stand-out embellishments and kaleidoscopic color in her collection. Simple pleated shorts, alluring sheer blouses and unfinished pantsuits gave the feminine form a fresh new identity, punctuated by the recurring use of metallic chain-belts. These elegant belts ultimately determined the silhouette of any given ensemble, and were used to a variety of powerful effects. Hung loosely as a drop waist in one instance, and fastened firmly at the waist in another, they wove through the whole collection and suggested an industrial feel. Speaking of weaves, the sophisticated shift dress in stone-cold blue (the only evidence of color in this collection) sported a classic weave and a contrasting modern neckline, adding a refreshing new dimension to the presentation. Ultra-sheer swathes of black chiffon were sent down the runway, and appeared to have been massacred by the likes of a three year old with scissors and were covered with oddly placed zips. The same million-dollar aesthetic was brought down to earth in the form of an equally "zippy" grey cardigan, a slouchy grey tank emblazoned with a modern motif, and neutral harem pants, which, dare I say, looked comfy enough to be pajamas! With such strong androgynous tailoring and a beautifully silent aesthetic, the skillful manipulation of mere fabric without any fussy frills attached was more than enough to do justice to this designer's work.

Elohim by Sabrina Goh 
 {view the whole collection here}

Mint greens, electric blues and blazing reds, Goh's works of art exploded onto the runway and left behind a fluorescent, psychedelic trail which set the mood for the rest of the evening. Modern, sterile, and oh-so geometric, this collection played with only a few colors but did so to a marvelous extent. Each model was sent down the runway donning a pair of mirrored space-age glasses, which only emphasized the clean-cut power of what they were wearing. The show opened with a seamless, fluid asymmetrical side-slit dress in a shocking blue (pictured in black on the far left of the runway photos), which showed no evidence of hemline stitching, or for that matter, any form of stitching. This was followed by modern shift dresses (pictured on the far left of the lookbook photos) and preppy frocks updated for the 21st (or 22nd...) century. Sleeveless and full-skirted a la 1950s, but sensually thigh-skimming and adorned with peplum overlays (pictured on the far right of the runway photos) in less-than-demure colors. Goh subsequently began to showcase her explorations into volume and shape, and played with stripy boyfriend tees which were reincarnated later into office-ready tailored separates. Standouts from this collection would have to be the puzzle side-slit dress (pictured on the far right of the lookbook photos), an ingenious marriage between a soft gray skirt and an architectural blue shift, and the puzzle top (pictured in the center of the runway photos), a cut-and-paste confection of prints in a desirable slouchy cut. 

Ong Shunmugam 

{view the whole collection here}

Ong Shunmugam is on the "quest to craft beautiful clothes" and put "sartorial construction before fast fashion," and after sitting through a five minute runway presentation of their absolutely delectable Spring/Summer 2013 collection, I am completely and utterly taken with this brand. Created for the "thoughtful dresser," Ong Shunmugam ateliers across Asia look only as far as their oriental front lawns for inspiration, and combine sophisticated prints through the use of gentle geometric shapes to create multifaceted ensembles with a clear oriental heritage. Almost all the looks employed the same simple collar (I don't really know if it's Chinese or Japanese or whatever, but I know that it's Asian!), which served to elongate the neck and conceal the chest/cleavage in the manner of a conservative, classy woman. With a million dollar color palette, this pared-down collection sported everything from elegant olive pantsuits to caped floor length dresses, and plenty of lace-adorned shift dresses in between. I particularly enjoyed the shift dresses, which each displayed up to four different prints and a medley of colors. As the show progressed, the collection began to pull away from strict Asian influences, and explore general floral motifs. Powerful capes were the perfect way to end the show - and the translucency of the chiffon floral capes looked beautiful against the runway lights. Ong Shunmugam provided a dramatic sequence of pieces, but they weren't silly and theatrical. They were inspired by fantasy, yet were utterly in-tune with reality.  

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Which collection did you guys like the best and why?

best friend tag video!

 Hello everyone! 

A relatively snappy, self-explanatory post for you today: one of my best friends (who also happens to be an incredible singer and youtuber) Zack Hourihane selected me to appear in one of his videos: A Best Friend Tag! We filmed this late last week, and I think he did an awesome job editing it in record time. In the video, we're answering a set of questions set by famous beauty blogger/youtuber JuicyStar007 - also known as Blair Fowler, and we're just generally rambling about life. It would mean a lot to both Zack and I if you took 7 minutes of your time to watch the two of us being stupid!

And for those of you who have never met me/live halfway across the world/are curious to hear what my voice sounds like: this is the video for you!

~
Keep up with Zack through Youtube, Twitter and Tumblr, and if you watched the video, thank you!

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