Ferni & Friends

Thinking hard about your next buy, maybe.

2009-11-06T15:05:00.005+11:00

Got my latest copy of Vogue yesterday and I was so happy to empty my brains out by spending a relaxing half an hour indulging in it. However the contest that they were running caught me a little by surprise - yes, the prizes were none other than these $500 Bacio pandora bracelets - $500 each. I was like, ummmmm sorry not going to pay that much for a bracelet that doesn't even scream INDIVIDUALITY and DESIGN.

What are pandora bracelets anyway? To me, they exist as nothing more than a steel metal rim, supporting a meagre few lampwork, metal or diamante beads. Sure it's silver and it's got your occassional add-on charms hanging down from it, but what really are all those hundreds of dollars going into?

I know pure silver is expensive, but as a teenager (and I think I speak for many when I say this) we don't solely obsess ourselves with the intricacies and quality of what we're buying; relatively speaking (to adults). I know I'm always on the lookout for things that look good, have significant design appeal and of course, it has to be something unique that makes me stand out when I wear it. That's why I love my wadrobe so much because it's like my second skin that I'm comfortable in - not to mention ECONOMICAL too!

For instance: have you guys had a look at Diva's "Design A Range" Contest recently?

I was quite eager to see the results of the finalists, but it was an awful shock when it came! Head over to see the finalists and you'll know what I mean. I'm not too sure I'll be buying any of these pieces in the near future. (FYI for those who don't know, the selected finalist will get their pieces mass-produced by Diva and sold Australia-wide. OMGOSH)

With the advent of 'hip' thrifting about in op-shops, I've developed a fascination for attending trash and treasure markets, or simply rediscovering the joys of picking up something lovely that someone else undervalues. So no more $500 pandora bracelets for me.

So what exactly is it that we are paying for? A nice looking brass charm attached to a string of normal, plain chain, making it a very mediocre necklace - $30 bucks gone at the very least; ka-ching.

A few noticeable trends in this category of lacking-in-skill "handmade" jewellery I've noticed include those romance-themed ones, like the 'Going Steady' pendant. Really though?

Also, the evergreen - or should I say, 'overseen' - 'LOVE' heart charm:

Left to right: $54.80 French Charm bracelet, ~$40.00 International Love Heart necklace

So I guess the question at the end of the day is really, what we concern ourselves with the value of our money. For looks or for quality craftsmanship?

A quick one amidst the craziness.

2009-11-05T16:30:00.000+11:00

These are just my top picks from my newfound time-wasting website, Anthropologie. Once again - situated in London. I never knew, only until recently, that online shopping was so big in London! I feel like a very small toad in a well. So these are the bracelets. They carry gorgeous jewellery!!! I can't help but drool a little each time I visit the website. Stay tuned for more of my 'top picks' from there next time :)

I don't LIKE this one particularly, but isn't it an interesting concept? It's called 'Badminton Bangle'.

Have a good weekend everyone! X X

Juliette Hogan + Outfit post!

2009-11-01T14:22:00.008+11:00

Aspiring indie designers such as Juliette Hogan, who start their business just from nothing, are truly an inspiration to all of us. I was website-hopping earlier on today, and stumbled upon her extremely inviting website that featured her personal collections of clothes. They are very lovely! Here's a photo spam of some of my favourites (please be patient, it'll take a while to load):

I hope you are all having a marvellous weekend. I am still in the midst of studying for my end of years' (aren't we all!) and today, in a fit of desperation perhaps, became religious and went to church :P I'm terrible I know but we haven't been very fillial christians with regards to church attendance so mum was like, we HAVE to go today!

Some pretty flowers from our garden to brighten your day:

And an outfit to make it all better :) I know I've been promising to blog outfit posts but I just haven't had the time/opportunity to take decent photos!

Top: From mum's pile of old clothes that she never wears anymore - a really nice silk top; Bottom: Thrifted denim skirt; Shoes: Random shop from Mexico

I'm thinking of doing outfit posts more regularly, yes/no? Leave a comment and let me know :)

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CHUNKY SHOES - random poll of the week

2009-10-23T09:41:00.004+11:00

I'm not sure what it is exactly with these Jeffrey Campbell-inspired Laddered Wedge-like hybrids that look like a bad mix of wedges and gladiator sandals making a comeback all of a sudden. In fact, why these chunky shoes are even a fashion trend right now is something I still fail to comprehend. Big, bulky and altogether primitive looking, these shoes make the gladiator sandals look somewhat like Cinderella's delicate glass slipper, in my personal opinion.

p/s I voted 'not'.

October Giveaway!

2009-09-30T16:18:00.008+10:00

This, my readers, is your chance to win the lovely pictured necklace, Pure Heart, kindly sponsored by ClayInHands. The clay doll is specially hand-made, how awesomely gorgeous!

The contest question this round is,

"Can fashion really change a person?"

Congratulations, Sherly!

YES(: Fashion is styles and customs that is 'in' at a given time. Fashion changes how a person looks, how a person behaves. Being in the fashion , it makes a person more confident of how they look, as people around them are dressing in the same way. It does not only change a person's look but also their mentality. So fashion does change a person ! (: - Sherly's winning entry

Jarring Jeggings

2009-09-28T21:42:00.002+10:00

There's recently been lots of hype about the newest design of tights in town - that of jean tights, 'jeggings'. So if you're ever sick of your plain old boring black ones, hey guess what? They come in jeans too.

I suppose they can be worn to good use, obviously depending very much on the tastes of the wearer. Personally I don't have much against them, but for the sake of the tights industry I'm erring on the side of caution because we really don't want a lovely fashion statement like

turning into

Would you really pay $242 for Sivvy's 'Sophie' cropped skinny jeans at Shopbop for this pair of hybrid of skinny jeans and leggings?

Jeggings are great and I love them but maybe don't let them get too carried away with it, ey?

Addicted, shmeddicted...

2009-09-26T10:47:00.005+10:00

It is true. I have a terrible, fatally draining addiction to eBay.
... to all colours bright and colourful.
I capitulate to anything vintage.

Slightly random, but the other day mum and I went op-shop thrifting and I saw a whole heap of nice things. Once again, I'll let Google images do the reincarnating:

This is a pathetic version of the awesome rainbow top I spotted in the shop. 1. It is NOT woolly; more of a slippery sheeny material - I'm terribe with fabric nomenclature, I realize. 2. The one I saw was slightly oversized and I thought it would serve well as an outerlayer while wearing a basic tank top inside. 3. The colours were much starker, and more vivid.

And it was $7! To have bought or not to have bought?

Once again, a terrible re-representation of another top I picked out. But it's kind of similar, except the one I saw was beige, and had a higher neckline, and the material was of a much thicker, woolier nature. It was definitely a knit top though, and had textured details in it - great as an outer piece again.

I think it was $7 too.

+
Finally - a combination of the above 2 piccies. This was possibly the item of the day that made me the saddest to be putting back on the shelf. It was a white vintage handbag with a gold clasp closure on the top, with cross-stich floral detail on the front. It had a stiff backing and was square in shape, and was made of what felt like leather - or PVC.

$7 for such a lovely find.

Sadly my mum is on a strongly anti-anything-I-like campaign at the moment. Went shopping with her the other day, and she rejected everything I touched. I realized a growing trend was that mum sticks more to conservative colours and simple designs, whereas the sad tragedy of teenage fashion is that it commands everything of the opposite, and crazier.

Anyway - hopefully op-shopping is more productive next time. Perhaps I'll go without my mum. And with a walletful of cash. My own.

Tinytoadstool - my new obsession

2009-09-23T21:15:00.006+10:00

Hello earthlings!

ZOMG! I have come to report a lovely find for all cute, quirky and vintage lovers.

Yes, that's a beret. A toadstool beret, mind.

Shan at Tinytoadstool has an etsy shop that you guys should ALL check out. She has the most adorable clothing that I think I have ever seen in my entire LIFE of online window-shopping!

She stocks the most gorgeous dresses and coats ever, i.e.:

I also adore some other little trails of vintage that have their own unique personality in each of them.

If you're a bit tight on your purse strings you're in luck because she's having a sale on some of the above items now. They're going for USD$10 each which is extremely reasonable for such rare finds on the net!

In all, an extremely pleasant niche, one hardly seen anymore in today's overly commercialized system of online shopping which advocates glam more than anything else, often neglecting the simple pleasures of mixing simple colours and appreciating the simple beauty in that.

I think I'm in love.

Ze Hunt for ze perfect shoez

2009-09-18T12:47:00.007+10:00

As you guys already know, I'm just dying for warmer spring to come so I can actually wear skirts without freezing. I hate this silly weather that can't decide whether or not it wants to be hot or cold!!!

When one cannot wear, what does one do?

...

One plans.

So. I was thinking about the potential shoes that I could wear with the few skirts of mine that I had in mind. Thinking about borrowing mum's brown Colorado heels, OK...thinking about borrowing sister's brown wedges from Mexico, OK...

And then I realized that was all I had!!! As far as high heels that are suitable to wear with high waisted skirts are concerned.

I'll be quite honest - frankly my legs aren't exactly the proudest thing in the world I'm glad to have, and with ~~short~~ ~~mediocre~~ less flattering legs, heels are obviously a MUST. But the thing was, I don't have any other nice heels to wear with the skirt besides temporary loans from my mum and sister :O

ZOMG

Hurriedly rushed off to google to do a bit of spanning across the net for suitable candidates.

Things to know about me when I'm on the lookout for heels:
1. Not a very big fan of weges; more inclined towards simple heels, preferably with straps/nice bling on the front so my foot isn't overly 'exposed'; E.g.

This one is my FAVE!!! Look at how high they go...

*

*

*

Only kidding, duh.
Britney Spears = queen of worst fashion. Ever.

2. I tend to go for brown rather than black. Actually, for that matter, any other colour really.

I love the multi-straps on the mary jane on the left. And the COLOURS on the one on the right + tan... = PERFECT :'(

I blame my fetish with tanned shoes on my ridiculously fair skin (which is no way a good thing) - stands out less, I reckon. When I wear black heels they make me look like an awkward zebra of sorts.

Of course, you have the occassional exception...

Hmm.

So I guess this settles the verdict that I should be looking for tanned, strapped heels on my next shopping trip.

As always: more oogling at awesome high waisted skirt outfits - and picking a few tips along the way!

Gorgeous high waisted skirt aside; I find that sometimes pairing it simply with a basic top works too.

NOTE: In the second picture; the model is wearing - YUP, YOU GOT IT - tanned, strapped heels!!! What'd I tell you!!! :D They are WIN.

I also love them soft, pastel colours...

So I'm gonna hafta get one of these sometime soon! Plus my awesome tanned strapped heels, too.

Ok cya! Off to do more study xx

Lurking about Facebook with some sort of contorted vengeance

2009-09-05T21:43:00.003+10:00

Isn't it funny how birthdays have come to exist as a socialite, status quo sort of thing nowadays? This is obviously not going to apply to everyone, but I was just having a little surf on the homepage of facebook (as I do when I have work to do but decide blatantly NOT to) and realized that out of the 10 newest posts I had of my friends' feeds, 9 of them were literally this same girl thanking everyone who went to her party last night!

UMM so people are really polite nowadays or maybe I'm just reading into this too much? haha wadevz. Conclusion: 1. I have too much time on my hands, 2. I really need to stop procrastinating.

Recently I found my dad's old jumper, tucked inconspicuously away in a corner of the walk-in robe. I spy, I spy!

It looks roughly about a mix of these:

The colour of the jumper on the left; but the stripes on the jumper on the right. The latter is also a rather accurate representation of how big it was on me.

It was quite an amazing find - it's made of scottish wool and is AMAZINGLY warm. No kidding, I was wearing just a t-shirt underneath the jumper, and I was warm as toast in the un-heated 10 degree ice cube of my house.

I was just racking my head for outfit ideas because it is not a terribly ugly jumper, it was just a little too big for me. SO I decided to go for the deliberately oversized look and pair it simply with my cotton on black tights and favourite River's navy coloured cherry-print mary jane flats.

These photos are, once again, NOT pics of what I really own - I was way too lazy to go take a pic of them right now. Plus, it's night. Bad lighting.

Anyway so I was trying to see if this oversized jumper + black tights + flats look would work. Something like this photo on the left was EXACTLY what I had in mind (and was hoping to pull off).

Mental note: Need to get awesome long necklace.

I think a beret would look cute too.

Additionally, was massively inspired by these outfit ideas:

So I know the next hottest thing to get on my 'Need to get list' is now COLOURED TIGHTS. I only have black tights. How plain and boring as can be; shoot me now!

Not too sure about blue tights though. I like the colour on its own, but just not on my legs.

Bright pink are hot.

But still...I was thinking a more toned down, mature shade of maroon. Something like the picture on the left. The ideal of a reserved, sensible girl with just a hint of fashion consciousness about her.

I like.

To sum it all up; my mental fashion checklist for the near future:

1. Try out oversized jumper + tights + long necklace + (optional) beret + flats/heels look sometime - I'll possibly try to get photos and post them up here if I do get the time - that is, if it doesn't turn out terribly uglily ridonkulus.

2. Get coloured tights.

That's all for now, ma cherie! Good night everyone.

Do you sometimes ever feel like Alice in Wonderland

2009-08-29T10:44:00.006+10:00

...wandering around in a world full of hidden mysteries...

...witnessing the arrival of an occassional surprise...

...and most of the time just heading towards the sole source of light amidst the jungle?

My mum's pride and joy; her new pot of spring daisies. Behold:

I spent ages just 5 minutes ago trying to solve the mystery problem of my right 'shift' key - it somehow wasn't working very well. Eventually I had to rip the entire key out and found that the annoying little irritant of a mystery grain had lodged itself in the most inconvenient spot and was preventing proper contact between the key and my keyboard.

Took the keyboard,
shook
and
shook
and
shook

and the little bugger came out.

Then was the problem of fixing the key back in place that I had so conveniently ripped out in my fit of rage.

Let's just say that took a little longer than I had expected.

Speaking of Alice in Wonderland anyhow... there is a lot of hoo-ha about how it's turned itself into a majorly popular fashion icon now; be it in clothes or jewellery or even bags. I suppose it is a vintage motif, a novel sort of thing - but visit too many fanpages of it and you do get the feeling that it might be a little overrated somehow.

How awesome is this Mad Hatter outfit? Now I wish it was halloween, and that it wasn't quite as cold as it normally turns out to be.

Check out this cool collage of related fashion shoots I unearthed in my little pidgying around the web:

lol I would love to buy my dad the wacky suits that the twins are sporting on the left for upcoming Father's Day. (speaking of which - URGENTLY need to get a Father's Day pressie but have no idea what to get??? help!?) The girl on the right does look like Drew Barrymore a bit.

But of course you have the female version of Twiddle-dee and Twiddle-dum too!

Love the golden frock; how I wish I was in this sunny garden right now. It's been raining almost consistenly 24hours7days here.

And most certainly without a doubt, my Alice in Wonderland pick of the day would most definitely go to Janine Byrom of Cherished Trinkets, with her stunningly ravishing vintage Alice in Wonderland charm bracelet. I do have a soft spot for magnificent jewellery, darn.

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Australia - the movie

2009-08-23T13:59:00.003+10:00

Ya-huh, that's right - I finally watched Australia, after such a loooooong time since its release!!

I think it was a good movie, and the fact that I really like Nicole Kidman's outfits + the style of that age (think high-waist pants and loose blouse tops) certainly helps with the impression.

If you've been keeping up with my updates, you might have noticed an increased surge in my blabberings on high-waisted bottoms. Seriously! I need to get a life. I need to go OUT shopping and actually GET one of them. The day I do that, rantings on high-waisted bottoms will cease forever on this site.

This Embroidered Silk Georgette Blouse from Akris is modern and retro all at the same time.

And this old-school look with high-waisted jeans that Rihanna sports is spot on. Way to disguise a broken leg, too.

But back to the movie...

Of course the kid was cute too. I love it how he's so unexpectedly articulate for a half-caste Aborogine of the time - but I guess entertainment does have its historical limitations!

I suppose my only complaint would be that there was *just* a bit too much of kissing going on between the inseparable protagonists, but besides that - in all, a really good film if you love a romance-tinged documentary-like film of Australia.

I Say, Vtay!

2009-08-21T10:57:00.007+10:00

Meet Vanessa - a new up and coming star blogger on the rise! Vanessa's been involved with various events, some of which are not unfamiliar to us such as Lunch With Yebber, being involved in her very own band and of course, making a statement with her very own personal site.

In this interview we ask Vanessa about life, fashion and other random things.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

You've been involved with 'Lunch with Yebber' from a while back ago. Was that a satisfying experience, and what did you feel was valuable about being involved in such a program?

It was my first attempt ever in doing a review show... I was pretty nervous at first because I was so new to it and I didn't know what to do for most parts of it! But I learnt a fair bit from that experience and the team was fun to work with... and of course, getting to try all that awesome food just made everything better! I enjoyed every bit of it, even the NGs! Hopefully, I'll get to do another review show in future! And not just about food... could be anything else... like, I don't know, beauty and shopping maybe?

We also heard that you're involved in a band - tell us a little more about that.

Yes, I'm in a band called en(x) and we're a rock band... mainly alternative/stadium rock. We've been around since 2007. You can head down to our myspace page to take a listen to our music!

I love being in the band because... well... I love music and I love being part of making music! I've been playing the piano since I was 4, but I stopped after Grade 7 because I didn't enjoy classical music much... and because my piano teacher was driving me up the wall! I'm glad I can now put my classical training to good use... somewhat. Haha.

Is it ever your dream to become famous? If so, for what?

Who doesn't wanna become famous?!?! Haha! Well, when I was younger, I'd wanted to be a singer because I could actually sing at that time... pretty well too... but after I fell really sick in my teens, I lost my voice for a period of time and when it came back, I could no longer sing! So now, its just all about the band. But with or without the band, I'd definitely end up being in media or entertainment somehow... whether or not I get famous, I leave it up to God! (I'm not christian, but I DO believe in God!)

Tell us a little about what you consider your characteristic fashion 'style' would be.

Honestly, I don't really have a fixed style. I dress according to my mood and according to my activities for the day. As long as I look good and feel comfortable with what I'm wearing, its all good!

Maybe its the fact that I'm in a rock band and I love bling (as in diamantes) and skulls... People have labelled my style as "rocker". But personally, I don't think I have a fixed style... I like to think that I'm pretty diverse! My friends used to get surprised by me all the time. One day I'm the sweet girl, next day I'm the hip hop street chic and the following day, I'm just normal... haha. Or maybe I'm just weird like that. Ok. To make things simple... my favourite colour is black, I love studs and bling.

So... basically anything along those lines are cool. haha. I love zebra prints too... but i don't really wear prints... haven't found the right piece of garment to wear yet! But i do have a zebra printed bikini that i'm totally in love with!

Even my mouse is bling, by the way! Although this has nothing much to do with my fashion sense... but its my style!

Which do you prefer - online shopping or actual real-life shopping, and why?

Online shopping all the way!!! Well, a lot of what I do revolves around being online so naturally, its the most convenient method of shopping! Also, I find that shopping online is way cheaper than actually going out there to buy stuff! But of course, once in awhile, when I just HAVE to be sure, I do actually step out and check things out. When I actually have time off and I happen to be wandering around in town, I also casually pop by the shops and see what's for sale. Most of the time, I get bored and lazy to flip through the shelves, so online is still the best because its all just RIGHT THERE for me to click on and view! After awhile, I get used to all the measurements and now I know exactly what fits me and what doesn't. The fact that I'm quite petite helps too... I fit into most clothes I can find online!

Anyway, favourite online shop?

I have a whole list of them! I go to different online shops for different purposes! I don't think I should mention anyone here in case everyone else thinks I'm playing favourites...

You're an online blogshop owner yourself of The Card Girl. How do you find running an online business like that?

Its really REALLY tough! You gotta go to the right places and do the proper marketing and stuff... I just don't have the time to do all that! That's why my blogshop has taken a backseat... I'm too busy with STOMP StarBlog, with my band en(x), with being music director of 170radio.com (Singapore's 1st & ONLY online radio!)... and then there's school and japanese classes... and family and friends... I barely get time to sleep cuz I'm out and about so much! I initially started the blogshop because I really just enjoy making cards and notebooks... I can't draw to save my life, but I cut and paste and stick things together REALLY well! I made too many cards and notebooks and I couldn't possibly use all of them, so I decided to put them all up for sale! But due to my busy schedule, I haven't been updating at all... and I'm putting all the stuff on 50% off so I can clear it! You can check them out at http://crafty-cardgirl.blogspot.com/ ! Some items are sold but I just really haven't had time to update... so just drop me an email if you're interested in something and we'll see if its still available! =P

Tell us about your worst ever fashion day.

I don't actually have a worst ever fashion day. At least not for the past few years! I mean, really, how hard is it to look at least decent? Even t-shirt and jeans would do when all else fails! I don't really understand how people can have bad fashion days... I think its because they try too hard and end up screwing it all up!

What are your hobbies?

If I even have time for them! Haha! Ok ok... let's pretend I have time for hobbies... I love watching all sorts of shows online... from Gossip Girl to Hana Yori Dango...

I LOVE being near the sea, so I love going to the beach... and I get to wear my bikini for suntanning! Love it. I also love music... DUH... love music to death. I read a lot too! My mom thinks I shouldn't buy books because its a total waste of money. I finished reading each of the books from the Twilight series in under 48hours per book! I'm a monster. I like to hang out my friends too... sit somewhere and chat and catch up (there's always LOTS to catch up because I seldom get to meet them!) and people watch... I love going for car rides too! Woe to all my friends who drive. Teehee. I can't drive you see, but I love being driven... Its just nice. I just wish fuel prices were lower so I'd feel less guilty for making them drive me! I used to like shopping too... but nowadays it ONLINE SHOPPING... and I do it in between waiting for stuff to load and all my other online work... so that doesn't really count... right? =P Oh yes, and I like to sing too... But I don't sing well, so let's not go there!

If given $1,000,000 (a million dollars!) to spend, what would you do with it and why?

I would seek serious advice and invest it so that I would have more than just a million dollars in time to come!!

If I wasn't allowed to invest... well, I guess I'll buy a new house for myself, pay in full for driving lessons, pay in full for a 3wk getaway, and use the remaining amount of money to make the down payment for a BMW 7 series... because its always been my mom's dream to drive a BM, and it'll be totally kick-ass if my 1st car was a freakin' BM! hahahahahah!

Wayfarers - the Way to go

2009-08-18T19:41:00.004+10:00

Completely lusting for these wayfarer sunnies right now. Just hit me with any colour of the rainbow and I'm still happy.

And to think that they'd been around since the 1960s, especially with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. No wonder the style seemed sort of familiar. D'oh!

PLUS - who doesn't love J F Kennedy? Even he was into these sunnies too, when his noble existence was still around. This is a pic of him with his daughter, Caroline, holidaying aboard the "Honey Fitz", off Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Dated 25 August 1963 - about a year after having negotiated a conclusion to the Cuban Missile Crisis. No wonder he can afford an ill-gotten holiday after such a worry.

Above: Figure 1, US design patent #169,995. Patent granted July 7, 1953, and assigned to Bausch and Lomb by Raymond F.E. Stegeman.

Although I think I'd definitely only be happy with those that have a colourful edge to them. I think the whites are o-kaaaay, but..... I have my reservations about them. They look deceptively wearable, but I think they're only for amazingly sculpted faces. Meh:

On the contrary, I'd very much like brightly coloured lovely frames.

Call me an obsessed child, I'll deal with it. I just think that there is nothing better than a spectacular pair of sunnies to add colour to your face with.

Left: I like these ones that Demi Lovato's wearing. The perfecto shade of cool, sky-nothingisgoingtogowrongwithmylife-blue.

Right: I also don't mind the kitschiness of the red heart-framed ones that Nicole Richie's sporting.

Some excellent outfit ideas for dressing up these delightful sunnies:

From top left: Large red bangle, £30, Pebble, www.pebblelondon.co.uk Gold and red bangle, £49, Fenwick, 020 7629 9161 Red weave shoe, £575, Jimmy Choo, 020 7823 1051 Clutch bag, £350, www.savoir-faire.com, 0845 838 8883 Red sunglasses, £120, Ray Ban at David Clulow, 020 8515 6700 Red patent bow shoe, £139, LK Bennett, 0844 581 5881 Yellow shoulder strap bag, £205, See by Chloe at www.net-a-porter.co.uk Yellow bead necklace, £145, Pebble, www.pebblelondon.co.uk Orange cuff, £150, CC Skye at Savoir Faire, www.savoir-faire.com, 0845 838 8883 Orange clutch, £85, Banana Republic, 020 7758 3550 Red belt, £19.50, John Lewis, 0845 604 9049 Red stone bracelet, £60, Pebble, www.pebblelondon.co.uk Yellow headband, £39, Fenwick, 020 7629 9161 Yellow sunglasses, £170, Pucci at David Clulow, 020 8515 6700 Green studded shoe, £74, ASOS, www.asos.com Green clutch, £198, See by Chloe at www.mywardobe. com Green bead necklace, £5, Louche at Joy, www.joythestore.com Purple ruffle shoe, £29.50, Zara, 020 7534 9500 Blue embellished bangle, £95, Cara at Fenwick, 020 7629 9161 Blue clutch, £249, LK Bennett, 0844 581 5881 Blue patent belt, £39, Fenwick, 020 7629 9161 Blue flower corsage, £5, New Look, 0500 454 094 Purple stone necklace, £10, Accessorize, 0844 811 0068 Purple patent purse, £69, LK Bennett, 0844 581 5881 Purple sunglasses, £99.50, Ray Ban at David Clulow, 020 8515 6700

Katy Perry in Ray Ban. The psychedeliocality (not a word, okay but I like it) of it all sure packs a punch.

Alternatively you could always dress it down a little by pairing it with a few boho essentials.

I'm going to get my Ray Ban Wayfarers someday! :) It's just a matter of time.

It's 8.24pm and I should really be doing my work

2009-08-17T20:24:00.003+10:00

Random poll again! I've been thinking for a long time now to personalize Ferni & Friends such that it's still gonna be related heaps to fashion and things, except I might include just photos of my various outfits and things I have, just to share with all you good people out there :) I think it definitely creates and adds a more laid-back, 'look book' element to the blog. Whatdyou guys think? It's just that it's not often I find inspiration to look for things to blog about, and I think it might come easier if I start with things around me, for a start.

But I'll let you guys decide.

Omigodzzz on my various rifting through Flickr, I stumbled across this amazing jewellery maker, aka Sky Dreams. But more specifically - check out her gorgeous BLING!

Now if I had jewellery like that...I would be happy. Very.

Have a lovely week ahead everyone, and I'll be hoping to hear from you guys soon about the poll! Do feel free to leave a comment about this at all, I'd love to hear from you about this.

PS The 'leave a comment' link is tres screwed - it shows up below the dotted line for every post; so if you're ever confused as to how to go about leaving a comment, just look for it below a post. Estupido blogger layout.

Spotted! Sewperlative hairclips

2009-08-10T19:36:00.004+10:00

I truly do admire handcrafted ingenuity; and when the brilliant girls at Tzarist have come up with such fine feathered hair accessories, I don't think there's more a girl could ask for!

Satin Flowers on Peacock, Guinea Feathers, $32.90
(available in different colours)

Satin Flowers on Guinea, Single-coloured Goose Feathers, $32.90

Satin Flowers on Guinea, Obsidian Coque Feathers, $32.90

Satin flowers on Natural Coque, Black Feathers, $32.90

Image credits to Sewperlative

Aren't they just lovely? I so want one in my hair right now. These genuine feathers definitely look like they're worth every single penny; so head on down to Sewperlative for a browse through their shop today!

HIGH WAISTED SKIRTS are to die for :'(

2009-07-29T16:02:00.004+10:00

It has just struck me that I have nothing high-waisted in my wardrobe.

...

oh, my gosh.

...

After zooming around on the internet sourcing for potential pieces I could splurge on, I have come to the conclusion that I REALLY WANT A FLORAL PRINT SKIRT.

LIKE, NOW.

LIKE, NO KIDDING.

This one from Free People is magnificent if you manage to pull it off. If not - heck, just make sure you wear this with really high heels.

In my online fashion heist, I also found these awesome pictures on the many different ways to wear a single high-waisted skirt. Go nuts.

What I also love about the combination of solid colour blocks is that it immediately makes an outfit so much more casual; especially if it does come with slouch pockets:

I think colour blocking with high waisted stuff just gives it a little more edge to the outfit. Of course, it could definitely go both ways. Mum is under the permanent impression that gaudy colours remind her of shoes that nightclub singers wear.

I did try, in vain, explaining the unjustified nature of her contention but it kind of fell to bits the minute we reached home. Phooey!

What I have a soft spot for too, is the essential combination of dark navy with gold buttons. Ah! To die for.

Knees...going...soft... looking at BooHoo's Becca High Waisted Skirt.

To sum up, I think my sudden impulse for these high waisted skirts might very well have gone hand-in-hand with my previous ramble about high-heeled Mary Janes. (yes, thank you everyone who voted but I'm afraid I have determinedly set my mind on getting high-heeld MJs. I can't help it; a little extra height, albeit temporary and potentially painful, is still rather tempting.)

Hi-ho! Away I go. May I get a pretty high waisted skirt(s) and a decent pair of heeled MJs on my next shopping extravaganza - which, judging from my current rather dismal life, seems a long way to come.

Mary Janes - the original; and the hybrids

2009-07-18T12:43:00.004+10:00

I'm currently lusting for Mary Jane shoes; but I'm not sure if I should be getting them as flats or heels!

I'm inclined to go for heels as they are definitely more flattering; but I can't help thinking how chic the flats look too.

Some interesting stuff I found; including these lovely lovelies:

I love the ruffles on this last red one. As you all already know, I have a soft spot for ruffles. I like how the red's a sort of muted red; not too bright or loud. Very classy.

And this one...is just ewwww! WEIRD!

PS - How cool are these Mary Jane socks from Trumpette!

Dark Eyeshadow- how to do it

2009-07-04T13:25:00.004+10:00

I watched The Dark Knight for the second time last night and it just keeps getting better each time! Interestingly enough the joker's warped makeup reminded me of something that I had always wanted to learn how to do well but always failed in...

...how to put on eyeshadow to achieve a 'smoky eye effect', that is. Ha!

Personally, I do feel that eyeliner around the eyes can be a double-edged sword. As much as it emphasises the contours of one's eyes, it does have quite an opposite effect if your eye isn't sculpted as desirably as that of Eva Mendes - it does make your eye look smaller!

Soften the bold edges of eyeliner-drawn eyes with a bit of grey eyeshadow to blur it out for a less aggressive look.

Angelina Jolie has gone for the extreme kohl-drawn eyes in this one, and it does quite suit her. I'm not usually a big fan of gold jewellery, but they came out pretty well in this combination of strong eyeliner + tied up hair.

Keira Knightley sports a somewhat more played-down version and more youthful style of what Angelina has; with an extra addition of brown eyeshadow around the eyes. At first glance I was quite put off by this look - it reminds me somewhat of someone who's just stayed up all night studying for an exam tomorrow - but after a while, it looks quite passable.

It is also worthwhile to note that vamping strong eyes with an equally strong counterpart of red lipstick, just as Kim Kardashian has done in the left picture, achieves a very good effect as well. Be sure to powder your face real smooth to pull off this one though!! You don't want ugly skin against strong features; that just kills it.

Courtney Cox has gone for a heavily subdued, mature version of the smoky-eye look, which goes wonderfully with that shade of lipstick and her dress + silver jewellery too! Everything fits.

Oh, dearie dearie me. Not the catty look that Pamela Anderson is sporting here! Anything but the cat! Drunkedness and bad eyeshadow don't go very well together, I don't think.

HOW TO DO IT
Kudos to eHow.com

Step 1: Start by first applying your foundation, concealer, eye brightener, highlighting powder and other basics before you start your eyes.

While eyeliner is almost always applied after eyeshadow, to create a smoky look, start with black eyeliner.

Create a line from the outer corner of your lid and work to the end of your lashes, working as near to the lash line as possible.

Step 2: Use an angled eyeshadow brush to apply your dark eyeshadow, placing it directly over the eyeliner and gently working it in with the brush to smudge the liner pencil.

Make sure that the edges and entire length of the line is well blended.

Step 3: Blend your eyeshadow gradually up your eyelid to the crease, working the powder into your skin and then apply a light white or cream shimmer eyeshadow above the crease to the eyebrow to make your eyes pop.

Step 4: Apply your eyeliner once again. This time, begin at the outer corner of the lid, beginning just beyond and above the corner to create an upturned line and then work along the lash line to the inner corner of the eye.

Apply liner to the bottom lid as well and then smudge the lower line, keeping with the smoky look.

Step 5: Finish your sexy smoky look by applying mascara, curling your lashes and filling in your eyebrows if desired.

Hope that was useful! To end off, here's a video for kicks:

Boys Over Flowers (Korean ver) has good fashion stylists!

2009-07-02T12:06:00.003+10:00

I recently finished watching the Korean version of Boys Over Flowers, and it was really good! There was definitely heaps of eye candy which is always a plus in any K-drama, Kim Bum (the guy 2nd from the left in the picture above) being the best looking of them all (not biased at all!!).

Bit of trend spotting here:

Hound-tooth scarves go impeccably well with plain tops...

Plaid + red + white layers = love...

Layering lights and darks strategically is always a good thing, especially with clothes of different lengths, such as trench coats with shirts/vests/scarves inside.

Stock up on a range of little neck-tie scarves as you never know when they could come in handy, such as a romantic stroll through the grasses!

Long black socks + plaid mini skirt + side half-ponytail, very much the model of innocence indeedy. Finally...

Sorry I just had to put that one there...(one of) my favourite scenes in the entire drama because Kim Bum as So Yi Jeong in the drama is just too cute!! >< What a lovely way to end off a lovely post.

Psychedelic POW WOW

2009-06-26T21:26:00.000+10:00

Kind of a sad fact, but only recently have I come to realize the importance of adequate layering in your closet, and the importance that those crucial, itty-bitty little accessories add to your fashion wadrobe. Nevermind, better late than never.

One of the things that really got me thinking about the significance of suitable colour-pairing and all that jazz was having watched Uhm Jung Hwa's D.I.S.C.O music video, featuring TOP from Big Bang (watch out for his rapping bit in it - it is absolutely mind-blowingly grouse!).

On a side note - I was just googling some piccies of Uhm Jung Hwa, and she has some good dress sense. And if not her, then her stylist. She even makes wearing undergarments as a fashion accessory seem normal, which is...bizarre - although some do leave much to be desired. Let's take a look:

4 out of 5 stars!
This one is elegant and classy. I like it how the bracelet manages to meld everything together in terms of pattern and colour.

2 out of 5 stars...
Sorry, overdoing it a little although the colour combination works. The dress doesn't sit properly here; if it was a little more fitting I feel it would have been more successful. Just a tad more body-hugging, is my verdict. I adore the ruffles though. I do have a soft spot for them.

3 out of 5 stars!
Great, casual and chic! You hardly notice the extreme cleavage in this one, hey? Subtly cute.

5 out of 5 stars!
This is one of my favourites. Pastel lights of lime, cream and yellow do meld together to form a lovely combination. I find it works only against semi-tanned skin though.

5 out of 5 stars!
This is my 2nd favourite one in a row!!! It is very casual, yet commands attention to its unique colours and design.

1 out of 5 stars...
Ummmmmmmm as much as I love purple and dark royal at that, this one, I feel, hovers just a little too much on being overly exposive. The coat's lovely, but don something more than a bra inside perhaps...

Back to D.I.S.C.O though: in 3 words...: it. is. AWESOME!!! Without wanting to sound too much of a korean drama freak (which I am most certainly NOT! This one just came into my life all of a sudden), watch it if you haven't already. I promise it will be entertaining, even for those of you who are abit iffy about anything other than english pop. More than anything though, as much as the song's ridiculously catchy (be warned! you will be tempted to watch it again, and again, and again, and again......), look out for Jung Hwa's funky psychedelic pairing of colours in this one.

So that's all fine and dandy; but I came across these items of lust that I absolutely have to share with you guys. Warning: I am a big Forever 21 and Asos fan.

Bracelets

Left to right: Asos floral bangle, Asos set of three faceted bead stretch wristbands

Left to right: Forever 21 Ellie Bejeweled Cluster Cuff, Grainne Morton Butterfly Cuff

Rings

Left to right: Asos chunky striped plastic ring, Eclectic Vintage Hobe Pastel Rhinestone ring

Left to right: Forever 21 Rainbow Jewel Dome Ring, Forever 21 Wild Daisy Bead Ring

Guest appearances from other blogshops

Left to right: Twinkle Collection earrings, Tinted Jewels necklace, Shibooya pink tights

Hopefully that's left you inspired with revamping your wadrobe a little. A little venturing from (admittedly safe) monochromatic colours and the like never hurt anyone! See y'all later.

Shabby Chic

2009-06-13T17:47:00.003+10:00

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who, at one point in time, was puzzled by the paradoxical trend of 'Shabby Chic'.

It is originally an interior design term...but hey I'll let Wikipedia do the talking for now because I found this chunk of information really useful:

Shabby chic items are often heavily painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. The style is imitated in Faux Painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colours. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style.

The essence of shabby chic style is vintage and antique furniture painted white (or another soft pastel color) and distressed at the corners by sanding. Pink, mint green, and soft aqua are also popular colors seen in accessories and fabrics.

Popular decor items are pillows made of vintage barkcloth fabric, vintage linens, chenille bedspreads, vintage chandeliers, and anything with roses on it. It is a soft, relaxed feminine romantic way of decorating that looks comfortable and inviting. Also called Cottage style.

Credits to Wikipedia, my pal.

I'm not too sure if Shabby Chic is a term that's applied to items of fashion and the like, but I thought I'd just present a little nattering of what really caught my eye as I was blogshop-hoppin through the internet.

Trendspotted 'Shabby Chic' items! :

Forever21 flower teardrop earrings

I love how the antique gold accents of the filigree frames blend together so seamlessly and effortlessly with the glossiness of the flower cabochons. I think this versatile accessory can be paired in 2 ways:

If you're going all out for elaborate, make-a-statement-punch, I reckon accessorizing a floral summer dress would be stupendous!

Although I am usually against the idea of clashing florals with more florals, I think the occassional complexity of an outfit just deserves a genuine pat on the back. There isn't any harm in attempting an appearance of outrageous glamour, as long as it's not too over the top - which this isn't.

Alternatively, for the mod chic conservative look, I'm thinking...a grey scarf, and other monotonous colours for a casual, city-chic look. The monotony of the outfit places emphasis on these gorgeous earrings, bit of colour play there.

Anyway...moving on.

The next item which I liked, tres much, although I'm not usually a bag fan - but this one caught me by surprise - was this vintage little bag.

Floral Tapestry Oblong Tote, from Pepe Vintage

It never fails to frustrate me when I realise that all the bags I have are either 1. Stuffed way at the bottom of my wardrobe such that they can't sit properly in their assumed shape when I'm in a rush to use them; 2. Can't fit whatever I want to put in them; 3. Appear too cheap/formal for wherever I'm bamboozling off to!

I think a muted, elegant bag like this deserves a class of its own, which is very much missing in many 'glammish, out-there' totes that are being sold in malls today. There's a bit of it's own magic happening there.

Finally, as a last few quickies, if you've run out of places to hunt for dresses, Asos always has some delights. I love the shabby-chicness of these two dresses, something very vintage, but not quite.

Anyway that's all for today. Ciao for now!! xx

An Announcement to all shop owners

2009-06-07T11:02:00.002+10:00

Hey all shop owners!

Thanks for bearing with us while we put up the long overdue shop listings! In the meantime though, we need your help. In anticipation for our next update, we will need you all to send in photos of

fluorescent

stuff that you're selling - and it can be anything, from clothes, accessories to shoes!

Incentives?
We will pick a few to feature in our next update; and the one that we like BEST will win for themselves a free 1-month top banner display ad space, the one that looks like this:

To enter, all you have to do is follow these steps!
1. In a new email,
2. Attach a photo of the picture you want to submit.
3. Also host the same picture using a picture hosting software like photobucket (no blogger-hosted pics please! They are dodgy).
4. Provide the html for the picture in the email.
5. Insert the email Subject as "Fluorescent Pic Entry"

Rules
Only 1 submission per shop!

That's all, easy peasy huh? Be sure to get all entries in by next Sunday, the 14th of June. Looking forward to getting them!

Frills and Deathly Thrills

2009-05-29T21:08:00.003+10:00

I love frills, but when people just take it a step too far, I look at them and I identify various trends.

We all love hearts and stars, but this one just adds too much of a juvenile twist to it... just a bit too outlandish, perhaps? Definitely something that looks like it's just been hand-stitched together, the (tacky) DIY look.

Nighty-night! This image aptly captures what I would like to term as the "petticoat" syndrome. Maybe excellent as a slinky pyjama top, but definitely something I wouldn't like to be caught wearing under normal circumstances.

Oh dear. Is all I can say about this one... Is that much of exposed tummy really flattering? On the contrary, that particular style does ring true with that of the hippies.

I'm not sure about you guys, but I think there is a certain classiness in fashion that some designs just exceed in trying to get there.

On another note, although there is a fine line between experimental fashion and ticky-tack, I do think this one takes the cake for just making it past the former:

How's that for long skinny legs? Only if you do have the physique, though. Otherwise - don't even try!

Knitting- being original and wearing your style

2009-05-24T11:14:00.002+10:00

Mum recently picked up the hobby of knitting, much to my delight! Apart from meaning my wadrobe faces a potential influx of gorgeous scarves, beanies and (hopefully) cashmere sweaters!, it got me thinking about the wonders creativity works in us.

Additionally, "it can be very addictive", to quote mum verbatim.

So far she's created a baby blue pom pom scarf for me - the very first to add to the collection! It looks something like this:

I am eagerly anticipating more to come.

Forget the stereotype of wrinkled old grannies, hunched over in a quaint rocking chair, clicking her needles away - did you know that we hold the ability to recreate common, 'cool' accessories seen in shops?

Eyelet Headband
"If you're looking for a different way to dress up your hair and a way to use a ball of yarn you might not otherwise have a use for, this Eyelet Headband fits the bill on both counts.

The long ends hang down, giving the headband a whimsical look, and the simple eyelet pattern makes the knitting interesting but doesn't distract from your pretty yarn." - Sarah E. White, About.com

Easy and quick, huh? Talk about making a knitted fashion statement. To think that variations of this humble accessory can be spotted in shops all around...

... and even worn by Penelope Cruz.

The following knits have not actually materialized as yet; but I'm hopeful that someday, they will. Anyway, everyone loves eye candy, so here we go!

For the gorgeous blue-eyed, old-school look, a knitted vest is sure to get you somewhere, such as this fitted blue knit.

For yet another splash of vintage flair, cashmere sweaters never go out of fashion. These are quite reminiscent of twin sets from the 1940s.

Following on from the precious basic cashmere sweater, I loooooooooove love love the intricate details that come with these delightful flower patterns, instantly transforming a normal sweater into one that exudes femininity.

And to think they came out of nothing but a ball of yarn and 2 knitting needles! All hail them. Maybe today is your day to pick up this fashion-friendly hobby that promotes individuality and creativity!