SIS beauty awards 2011.

Like any year, 2011 has been eventful and happening in both the fashion industry and the beauty industry. Heightened technology and scientific research has promised revolutionary products. Everything in the fashion & beauty industry seems to be accelerating; seasons are flying in and out the door with "Cruise" and "Pre-Fall" intervals, and cosmetic brands are featuring celebrity collaborations at an unstoppable rate. With limited edition products that are gone before you know it (my favourite Buxom lipgloss stopped selling in Singapore, Mom and I were devastated!), and high demand resulting in everything being whisked off the shelves in record time, it's easy to hunt around and find a beauty essential that works for you, but it can be tough to hold onto it. 

This is a lineup of my all-time favourite beauty essentials that haven't (yet) pulled a disappearing act on me, so I guess you could say they're kind of "classics" that are here to stay. 

Best Foundation

Best Deodorant

Best Hair Product

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Best Fragrance

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Best Moisturizer

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Best Mascara 

Best Shower Gel

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Best Eyeliner & Honorable Mention

What are your all-time favourite beauty products?

10QQ and a giveaway!

After spending a while turning over some new blogging concepts in my mind, I decided that a regular type of feature on my blog would be a good way to maintain consistency, as well as ensure a variety of content is available on Seven Inch Stilettos. I'm definitely one for listening to the opinions of others, so every few months from now on I'll do an extra-long post and include a "10 Quick Questions" interview with a different blogger each time. These questions will usually be snappy and straightforward so you guys can get an insight into the life of another blogger through a viewpoint other than exclusively fashion. 
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Today, I'm speaking to Gracie Molan of Moda De La Mode Blog and Magazine, who is currently situated in London.
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1) Favourite Designer: Katrina Ferrari. Her designs are elegant and use a variety of fabrics to create ethereal garments that verge on the gothic side of fashion.
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2) Two things on your bedside table right now: I've always got a notebook on my bedside table so I can jot down any thoughts I have before bed. I also have a dish where I put any jewelry I've been wearing.
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3) One makeup item you can't live without: Lip balm, I take it everywhere.
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4) One word to describe your personal style: Elegant.
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5) Something that's always in your fridge: Chocolate; it's the perfect treat after a long week of work!
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6) A band/artist you can't stand: The Wanted. "Manufactured Boy Band" sums them up perfectly, although I know many people like them.
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7) Top of your wish list right now: Photography/Technology lessons so I can become a blogging pro!
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8) Something you think is totally overrated: Apple Macs; give me a PC any day.
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9) Three things that are always in your bag: Phone, Keys, Money- All of life's essentials!
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10) Celebrity crush: ...That would be telling!

(from left to right): Fluff Passport Holder, Freedom by Topshop Gold Leaf Earrings, Formula 10.06 Mud Mask, Topshop Nail Polish in "Cloak and Dagger," Topshop woolly winter socks, Fluff Stiletto Luggage Tag
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Want to stand a chance to win these six items (collectively worth over US$50) from Seven Inch Stilettos' first giveaway, in honour of 400+ followers and 40,000+ pageviews?


All you've got to do to enter is:

• Follow us on Bloglovin'
• Follow us on Twitter
• "Like" our page on Facebook
• And leave a comment saying you did all three, along with your Twitter/Facebook usernames AND your email!

For extra entries (which EACH require a different comment):

• Tweet about Seven Inch Stilettos and this giveaway (@VeenaMcCoole)
• "Share" Seven Inch Stilettos on Facebook/promote our page on your blog page

The giveaway is open internationally, the deadline is January 20th, and the winner will be selected via an online random number generator and will be notified through email! Remember to read all instructions carefully and include all necessary information in your comment, and good luck to everyone!

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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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nylon is coming to singapore!

You can't even begin to describe the rush of excitement I got when I came across the NylonSG Facebook Page today. One of my favourite magazines is finally coming to Singapore and I am running around my bedroom in circles, unable to contain my sheer, juvenile excitement.

There's something so refreshing about Nylon magazine; and I can't really pinpoint it, to be honest. Maybe it's the fact that it's the only magazine which sticks out obnoxiously in my pile of monthly reads (TeenVogue, InStyle, Seventeen, Vogue), simply because of it's adorable, awkward square-ish shape. Or maybe it's the super talented layout team; the brains behind the cute typewriter fonts and trademark neon colour scheme which never fail to captivate me almost as much as the content itself. Whatever it is, Nylon magazine is truly a breath of fresh air, and I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a holistic, "alternative" read.

I'm not going to make a superficial judgement and say that Nylon is an "indie" magazine; but it's certainly teeming with substance and energetic content that one could never find between the dormant pages of a stereotypical, "fashion 101" magazine like Vogue (no offense Anna Wintour, I still love you!). Yes, Nylon is a fashion magazine, but it's not fanatically obsessed with documenting every pin-drop in the industry. It's able to convey a healthy, exciting dose of fashion each month, without "fangirling" about it. Nylon has the stellar, rare quality of being able to branch out into other fields of creativity such as music, literature, architecture and celebrities without straying too far from it's core image of being "that super cool magazine that no one really knows about."

Just as you'd find a copy of Us Weekly in the hands of a blonde babe, and an issue of Vogue tucked into the briefcase of a woman clacking around in stilettos, you'd probably find Nylon tucked under the arm of budding musician in a technicolor scarf, or in my case; in the hopeful hands of a teenager who's had enough of the mainstream.

I've always been a fan of American Nylon, here's the cover of their November 2011 issue with Rachel Bilson.

Twitter: @NylonSG

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nylonsg

Website: http://www.nylon.com.sg/

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pussybow!

vintage pussybow blouse (purchased in ireland)

high waisted jeans - topshop

court shoes - vintage salvatore ferragamo

Pussybow.

I'm sorry but how great is that word?! This is so random but I think "pussybow" is such a fun word to say. I like the structure of it, too. Two words squished into one. 

Anyway, those are a few quick snaps of an outfit that I was able to pull together in no time. I thought those gorgeous high waisted jeans would give my beloved vintage blouse an updated, edgy look. I would've worn my Doc Martens like I do in almost every outfit post, but I felt that the femininity and classiness of the pussybow blouse needed to be recognized and emphasized, and the smart Ferragamo shoes seemed to be the perfect match.

I'm all up for the weird and wonderful fashion "concoctions" of legends like Alexander McQueen, however I find that in my circumstances especially, it's important to make your style "wearable." You can't succeed as a fourteen year old living in the city if you're going to strut around in seven inch stilettos (pardon the pun) and wear obnoxiously large items on your head, because everyone will think you're an idiot, and chances are you'll probably look like one when the time comes for you to sprint to catch that bus. 

Individuality is great and I'd love to have the guts to pull off half the stuff that Tavi does, but at the end of the day I'm still a student. Yes, I may have one or two (or three, or four) quirky, wacky pieces in my wardrobe, but that doesn't mean I have to wear them altogether for maximum impact (Less is More!). I should be comfortable (hence the floaty blouse), I should look my age (hence the jeans and not that ankle length skirt made out of a tablecloth), and I shouldn't have to be tripping over in my heels and constantly readjusting my... makeshift floral chiffon turban, in the name of style.

And oh my goodness I like died when I reached 400 followers. *insert piercing teenage girl scream* *insert happy dance* I love you all immensely. MWAH.


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xoxo, gossip girl.

I can't believe I just started watching this show, seriously, I've missed out on SO much.

After torrenting the first four seasons in an attempt to get myself hooked on something other than Pretty Little Liars, I'm halfway through the first season and I think I'm enjoying myself far too much. I'm so wrapped up in the decadent lives of Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen, and watching them strut on the streets of New York in their finery only fuels my desire to pack my bags and live life in the city that never sleeps. 

Sources: here, here, and here.

Call me stupid, but I've been visualizing what my life would be like if I was in the shoes of someone as spectacularly rich and honoured as Blair Waldorf. It would definitely be enjoyable; brunches in expensive hotels, racks of designer clothing, the hottest boyfriend ever. However, after some time I realized how materialistic and superficial that sort of life is, and how unsuited I am to that lifestyle. I'm a city girl by all means and I'm a very privileged person, but nothing ever weighs up to the simple pleasures in life, in my opinion. A balmy Sunday sail, rainy days, friday nights, writing poetry, playing the ukulele, dancing for hours, family time; those things will forever mean the most to me. It seems that when you've got as much as these girls do, it's harder and harder to find true happiness. 

And here's the ultimate question that I've been asking myself and everyone else: Who's prettier? Blair or Serena?
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Personally, I think Blair is SO much prettier than Serena. All my friends disagree, but Leighton Meester is the most stunning girl ever and I love her dewy skin, warm smile and chocolate colored tresses. 
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The amount of bitching, gossip and scandalous action that happens on this show is incredulous yet expected, and it's what makes the show so juicy. After all, underneath their designer clothes and expensive jewels, they're just a bunch of high school kids like us.
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What do you think of Gossip Girl?


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oh, freja.

This post is dedicated to my absolute favourite supermodel ever. 
Freja Beha Erichsen has been on the continual rise to epic fame, and she's definitely not stopping yet. With her shockingly bold features and immense versatility, it's no surprise she's graced countless covers of top-notch magazines and editorials, as well as been photographed by the best names in the industry (cough Mario Testino). 


While having a conversation about models and the fashion industry with my friends, I was shocked to see some of my friends' surprised expressions when I instantly named Freja as one of my favourites. Names like Karlie Kloss and Miranda Kerr were very prominent in the discussion, and by no means was I surprised by this, but I wondered how in the world anyone could see straight through Freja's unusual, poignant beauty without doing a double take.


Whether she sports a mannish, streamlined suit with a thickly gelled updo or struts in a resort-style maxi and dewy makeup, the fact that she looks like she was born into everything she wears never fails to enthrall me. She's been all over the H&M advertisements here in Singapore (see below); don't you adore her sleek fringe? 

It's so nice to see supermodels smile in pictures too, sometimes I wonder if they really do enjoy their jobs, judging by the amount of sulky-faced pouts I see.


Thanks so much for all your continued support! 
Love you all muchly.
Sources are embedded as links somewhere in the text.

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