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LIPS & LASHES

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:50:00 +0000

Forget what you see on the runway, let's talk about good ol' makeup on the everyday women = me and you. After a lil' bit of foundation and powder, the first (and sometimes the only) area I focus on is my eyes. When I run out of time, I would apply a dash of eye liner and off I go. BORRRING.

I've started to appreciate makeup more (finally) and I realised that I haven't been making use of two underrated areas - lips and lashes. Even in small amounts, they make a whole lot of difference on your face.

The first thing that men notice on women is their lips and in red. No, I ain't gonna teach you about attracting men but this is a sign. Our lips is something we should take good care of. With all that talking, smiling and laughing in a conversation, adding a sweet shade of red will definitely do you more good.

I like Lancôme's Rouge In Love lipstick range. It has a gentle scent and feels very smooth and light. The range has 27 different shades in total and this bright Rose Boudoir colour is perfect for a casual dayout. It certainly makes your lips pop! I like the clean and silver casing that has a tight closure that 'clicks'. I don't have to worry about my lipstick cap falling off and ruining the insides of my bag anymore!

Another thing I've learned is that eye liner isn't enough for your eyes. It's great to define your eyes but with a closer look, your lashes are down and your eyed slightly covered.

I like my lashes to be thick and long. I use Hypnôse Star Waterproof mascara (also from Lancôme). One cool feature the mascara has is two flat and two oblique sides. The flat side is great for coating and the oblique awesome for making your lashes decently long. It's also very easy to change to the different sides while applying.

I'm not saying you have to apply the lipstick and mascara early in the day. But they have a permanent spot in my bag, ready to touch up my exhausted face after a day at work. Yes, especially for a night out with my girlzzz! You should too!

HIGH CONTRAST

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:10:00 +0000

My t-shirt frenzy is far from over, so is my obsession with purple hair. I'm a proud owner of a local designed t-shirt by illustrator Mojoko and of course, my gradual toned purple hair, see those bright purp ends? I think they look much better then dip dyed. It's more natural since my inner layer of hair is lighter instead of just my ends. Okay! Enough about those two. Here's something new: my shades, a.k.a the two tone SXUC Bruno Black 2023 from Australian e-tailer Sunglasses Shop. Black vs white = love.

Mixing prints can really go haywire sometimes, you know, OOT. What I did here was matching a unique print (top) with a geometrical pattern (bottom), keeping a simple colour palette of black and white (see: sunnies) with a little purple, of course! You can go vice versa too but since the unique print looks heavier, I'd keep it at the top. Print vs pattern = love also! Finally, one must not left out my new Dr. Martens badass heels!

Here's the roundup: SXUC sunglasses, kult Unbreakable's Warrior Tee, Zalora skirt, Issey Miyake clutch and Dr Martens heels.

The moment you've been waiting for, my virgin SHADES giveaway! Get ready to own this pair of extremely versatile SXUC Bruno Black 2023 by:

1) Liking Sunglasses Shop here and
2) Leaving the comment, 'I <3 Sunglasses Shop! #VWgiveaway at www.vionawang.com'

This is as easy as it gets (coz you know, me loves you) so no excuses not to take part. Contest ends on 18th Apr and is open to all my readers. Yes, every single one of you no matter where you're reading this!

Stay tuned for my winner announcement on my Facebook Page. 'Like' if you haven't!

Psst! Sunglasses Shop sells designer brands like Ray-Ban, Prada Sport and loads more. :)

LUISA FIETTA

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 06:22:00 +0000

There I was, sitting in front of the general manager of Pedder Red, Luisa Fietta, holding onto my smartphone with the voice recorder. We were at the corner of On Pedder's flagship store at Scotts Square overlooking Orchard Road. Before you get to know this amazing lady, let's rewind a few minutes.

It was press day at On Pedder and we were introduced the latest shoes, bags and accessories (which I will be sharing my favs with you soon). I haven't met LuisaFietta yet. Then, as we were ushered to Pedder Red's 'Let's Gold' collection, the amiable Fietta appeared and boy was I captivated by her presence. If you are reading this, Luisa, pardon me for being slightly distracted.

This was what happened in my head, 'I love her style! I must photograph her and share it with my readers! How should I do it? Should I ask her directly? But I may seem a bit too freaky and unprofessional. How about Marie (marketing and communications consultant)? Okay! I'll ask Marie later.' Yes, I had a spurt of adrenaline rush and that was just a small excerpt of the impromptu meeting with myself.

It was Fietta's energy and vibe that I admire. She's stylish, super down-to-earth and talking to her feels just like catching up with an old friend. So here she is!

I love your hairstyle.

I cut it myself actually. (I literally went, WWWHAT?!) I just cut the sides, keeping front part long so that I can have two different ways of wearing it. Sometimes I will roll my fringe up, sometimes it's down. I'm inspired by Alice Dellal. I shaved my sides before too but it didn't look as good.

How did you start working in fashion?

I'm originally from Italy and I studied accounting and finance mainly because my parents feel that it's the safer way to go. I went to work in sales for Diesel right after my studies and spent three years there before moving to their Hong Kong office. Then, I decided to study nutrition in a Hong Kong university before joining the Pedder Group. It has been a year now.

How many tattoos do you have?

Lots. They are all on my arms. I like nature and flowers. *started unbuttoning her sleeves to reveal her tattoos* This is peach blossoms. Always need to be surrounded by flowers.

When did you first get your tattoo?

My first got it when I gave birth to my daughter. It's her name.

Why do you like tattoos so much?

It's an expression. There are several ways of expressing yourself. I have strong feelings for my daughter and I like to imprint something visible so it feel more real. My peach blossoms tattoo is an expression of freedom, about rebirth. Peach blossoms are slightly bigger than cherry blossoms and they only blossom for two weeks. In Japanese tradition, it teaches you to embrace the beauty and appreciate what you have cos' sometimes, it goes away very fast. Just like childhood memories. My roses (tattoo) is about passion. I am passionate in everything I do. I love drawing. Even when I was a child, I draw everything. I like art on my body.

Do you speak Cantonese?

Xiu xiu (means very little)! Hong Kong is very much like Singapore, everybody speaks English there. My colleagues are always surprised to hear my speak Cantonese. I've spent 13 years in Hong Kong and have learned to understand it better. I don't know Mandarin thou. But my daughter does.

How old is your daughter?

She's four years old and her name is Viola. She was born in Hong Kong and she speaks Mandarin very fluently.

Tell me about your style.

Women now play important roles in the society and they like to feel strong yet feminine. I like a good mix of hard vs soft, masculine vs feminine. And a bit of rock 'n' roll.

What are you wearing today?

My glasses are Alexander McQueen and my necklace is by Ela Stone. The necklace is perfect: not too shiny and has a clever use of chain and leaves. I love to collect vintage accessories, especially necklaces and glasses from 40s and 50s.

What is the most valuable vintage item you have?

It's a pair of glasses from 1960s, made of real gold. I bought it from an old vintage shop in London, England. It has thin round frames. Very cool. I don't buy secondhand. I buy old stock that nobody wants to buy so I get to buy all those pieces at their original price sold in the 60s. Some cost about S$100 - 200. (!!!!!) I find really good vintage stuff such as glasses and sunglasses from Germany, London, Australia, both sunglasses and glasses. I like old way of jewelry making.

How different is tradition way of jewelry making?

It's of higher quality because they are handmade. The makers pay a lot of attention to details, especially the closure. It's perfect. Sadly, they don't have time to focus on this now.

What do you like about Singapore?

I really like the peacefulness here, especially when you exit from the airport. First of all the cabs are clean, drivers are nice and the road lined with trees are amazing. The big streets and trees are very different from Hong Kong. All the wide streets don't exist in Hong Kong. People here are very friendly. I love it! The trees and weather here make me happy.

Luisa made me realise something I didn't know about Singapore. Come to think about it, the long straight road towards to airport is the indeed very calming and beautiful.

GIRLS RULE

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:16:00 +0000

Diane von Furstenburg is the Queen of Print and Roxy is the Queen of Surf. And when the two Queens combined (channeling Captain Planet), you know what you're gonna get - the Queen of Beach Prints! And more commonly known as the DVF Loves ROXY collection.

Although I have yet to fulfill my dream of being a surfer gal (I've been planning for a surf-vacay in Australia for years, only succumbed to procrastination. #shootmyself), DVF Loves ROXY's bikinis (S$79 for a top and S$69 for a bottom), beach shorts, bags and cover-ups are enough to make me inspired all over again.

DVF's choice of colours and, geometrical and natural shapes used to create the prints hit all the right notes of Roxy's sporty and energetic girl. My personal favourites are the black and white Roxy Maze print (shorts below). Love the playful take on depicting the waves, beach, and the sea filled with Roxy's signature hearts. And of course, the multi-coloured graphic Hopscotch Multi print here with just the perfect amount of shapes and pastel colours.

Also on going is the Roxy 'DARE YOURSELF' contest, a global search for the quintessential Roxy girl! No matter where you're from, if you're a girl who's adventurous and is reading this, be sure to sign yourself up. Registration ends tomorrow, 28 March so hurry!

ARMY DAZE

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:21:00 +0000

Here's something I love about street style photography: You never know who you're going to meet. The unpredictability does make the process more difficult but at the same time it's more fun and spontaneous.

Jeremy is the tallest person I've met so far. I didn't ask him about his height but he's at least 1.90m tall. An army regular, he sure has a cool sense of style which sets himself apart from his mates. It may be Jeremy's tall physique that allows him (to be the one and only guy) who can pull off drapes, studs and harem pants simply because wearing all of 'em together can easily be too much for somebody other than him.

Long sleeves and drapes at the collar doesn't seem too comfy for us, Singaporeans. But Jeremy said his top doesn't make him feel warm at all. The material is pretty thin indeed! Plus, it has just the right amount of drape with an asymmetrical opening at the front. There's certainly a lot of thought put into designing this top.

Style Tip: For guys to look good in drapes, pair it with utilitarian pants and shoes so that your outfit has a balance of masculine vs (a little bit of) feminine.

Here's the roundup: top from Malaysia City Square, pants and watch (yes, it's a watch!) from Bugis, and Lonsdale shoes.

GREAT EYE DEER

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 07:19:00 +0000

How often do you see collections inspired by something so close to us that we seldom notice its beauty? (Eye) mean floral, nature, aquatic life, fruits and vegetables are so overused in fashion these days, it's hard for designers to keep surprising us with great design (eye)deas, don't you think? But eyeballs? That is just dope! Also, dope = Dr. Martens' second capsule collab with model Agyness Deyn.

My favourite has got to be the Eyeball Bag above. It's amazing how four circles of different sizes and colours can be used to create the most coveted bag in the collection. Trust me. All the bloggers and editors at the media preview were diggin' it!

Eyeballs are clever alternatives to the common polka dot print. Somehow (eye) feel that eyeballs add a new dimension to the usual 2D pattern even though it's actually two dimensional. It plays with the fact that eyeballs are indeed 3D in real life. The funny thing about it is since the eyeballs aren't covered with eyelids, (eye) can't help but feel slightly wozzy having so many eyes staring straight at me.

Inserting eyeballs everywhere may seem a little trying-too-hard but in this collection, (eye) like the subtle details where eyeballs are used especially the zip details (part of the Denim Biker Jacket). You'll find yourself buttoning up eyeballs too!

Eyeballs as boobies? (Eye)'m sure it will look great and enhance your lovelies only if yours fall nicely in place with the eyeballs. Otherwise, it will look a bit off. Would I wear it? YES! (if they fit nicely, of course)

The collection isn't all about eyeballs, really (even though (eye) wish they have eyeball-printed boots). Be sure to check out the entire collection which includes heart-shaped leather bag, bow sandals, knitted jumpers and more here. Prices included!

PAUL'S POODLE

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

By now, you would have realised I'm a huge fan of Paul Smith. But I'm not Paul's Poodle (the cute mixed breed above is). Having met the designer, Sir Paul Smith himself last year (the thought of taking a photo of him staring straight at me still gives me goosebumps!), shared with you about his work and even the non-fashion related store décor (I want every single one of them), I can officially declare that I've almost traveled a full fashion circle. Your truly is still saving up (more like contemplating a new plan) to own one of Paul Smith's designs and possibly go on a lunch date with him.

No, I'm not sucking up to international brands just because I was invited to view the collection whatsoever. The truth is, I love the world Paul Smith has created. Living in his world is luxurious yet fun and witty with a touch of fantasy.

So there I was, back in Paul Smith's fantasy land, a.k.a. the flagship store at Mandarin Gallery, in search of my favourites from his Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Of course, I've gotten the prices for you, just so you can shop away and complete the Paul Smith's fashion circle pour moi.

1.Long Sleeve Shirt with Red Floral Prints (S$540) - For those who can't get enough of white shirts (me), here's one with a peekaboo floral print to amp up your OL image.

2. Mixed Lace Top (S$1940) - This ain't just a showcase of cut-and-paste. I love the interesting textures created with a variety of lace and how weather appropriate it is.

3. Long Sleeve Cotton Shirt in Polka Dots with Rose Hem (S$410) - You've got the peekaboo white shirt for the ladies, here's a peekaboo one for the gents. I know this is menswear but I'm gonna wear it anyway.

4. Seagal Perforated Lace Up Shoe in Buffalo Leather (S$650) - How awesome is this pair of oxfords? The punched out polka dots are both cool and practical.

5. Dressed Skull Key Ring (S$210) - Skulls aren't just dead. Sometimes, they head out to the beach and have loads of fun!

6. Assorted Handkerchiefs

(from S$70) - I have a thing for guys who have a handkerchief in their shirt pocket and I love photography, so these are just brilliant.

7. Assorted Mens Leather Belts (from S$180) - I know, I know they are for men but who cares, really?

8. Assorted Mens Silk Ties (from S$170) - My Dad has a specific taste for ties. He only wears those with geometric patterns that are made of basic shapes, covering the background of the tie. Can you spot them?

Till next time, Paul Smith!

ELECTRIC DREAM

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Neon! Your colour so bright it doesn't even matter how hard you try. (In case you're wondering, I'm channeling Linkin Park's 'In The End') You won't be missed in a crowd. In actual fact, you get all the attention you want: good or bad? It doesn't matter, does it?

Neon coloured clothing is very tricky to play with. It's a hit or miss. And that's two extreme ends of the style spectrum where only the adventurous can take on. Then comes a refreshing colour-combi: neon yellow and red. Who knew it could be a perfect match. I never thought the two colours will go so well together until I bumped into Pia.

Pia, Central Saint Martens undergraduate, half of womenswear label, SWITCH, intern-to-be of haute couture line, On Aura Tout Vu, has LOADS under her fashion belt. She's also our local street style star known for her eclectic and unexpected ootds, not forgetting her ever-changing hairstyles. Spiked, shaved, bangs, bob, green, blonde, name it, Pia has it.

In this ootd in particular, the limelight is on her quirky neon yellow tee for sure. Its round neckline may look slightly casual but Pia amped it up by drawing eyes to her bob haircut and statement earrings. Keeping the colour-blocking to three colours - neon yellow, red and white - is great (or rather, just nice) for her ensemble without going overboard.

Style Tip: Add glamour to your casual tee by pairing it with either statement earrings (preferably for short hair) or necklace (long hair), not both.

Here's the roundup: Top from Korea, Topshop earrings, Zara pants, Celine bad and shoes from online.

Follow Pia and her ootds on Instagram at @piajacqueline.

Psst! If you're a McQueen fan like me, you're in for a treat!

URBAN FIGHTER

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:35:00 +0000

You must be wondering what is this sad looking figurine with a beaten oversized box head and bandaged body. Say Hello! to Tau-Pok King. Tau-pok is the beancurd with a brown wrinkled skin that is commonly found in your favourite laksa but unlike the rest of the tau-poks out there, Tau-Pok King - Deep fried countless times, a True Survivor - is created by Mighty Jaxx and Daniel Yu exclusively for Kult's latest creative project, Unbreakable.

An extension of Kult Magazine's tenth issue (also themed unbreakable), Unbreakable is a range of streetwear, artworks and products (you can buy Tau-Pok King at S$50) created with designs in collaborations with local and international artists.

Kult's social message is clear: highlighting the youths of today, who are often 'depressed, demotivated, and generally confused about life and their future.'

'From the moment we are born, we are faced with pressures and challenges. It's an ongoing battle. Pressure is what moulds us and shapes us into the person we are. To get through it all - and to come out the other side - takes grit, backbone and determination.'

I'm grateful that our generation is spared the tragedy of world wars but in the modern times now, we are faced with a completely different set of problems. We are so sheltered we lose our confidence easily and some are deprived of the drive to achieve greatness. We need a wake up call (or more like 'You better wake up your idea!') for a change of attitude, to be able to dare to dream and fight for the change we want in our society. Big words and dreams indeed. But big things do start small, just like Unbreakable.

Be sure to look out for this larger than life Unbreakable hand sign (hard to miss!), part of their pop up shop, at multi-label boutique Blackmarket. This particular hand sign, drawn by Singaporean artist Russell Ong, was also featured the issue's front cover. I would have never imagine turning illustrations into life size work of art but it's such a dope idea. Don't you think it makes illustrations more alive with greater impact than their original 2D form?

To make limited edition wearable art is one thing (you've got three unisex tees, one dress and one top to choose from in Unbreakable's first collection. Be sure to keep a lookout for their second installment here) but making it unbearably desirable is another. I'm referring to the black aluminium case that comes together with every purchase. Its cover embossed with Kittozutto's 'wired' interpretation of the theme definitely makes it a collector's item. I shall leave it to you to find out!

One does not simply leave you awesome readers with nothing eh? Thanks to the awesome folks of Kult, I'm giving away three of my favourite t-shirt design from the collection - Warrior Tee by Mojoko (S$50)! I can get lost just by looking at all the different types of warriors featured in the black and white collage. That includes really random ones such as a cute unicorn and the main character of the classical Chinese epic novel, Journey to the West, Monkey God, a.k.a. 孙悟空 (Sun Wukong).

All you have to do is to follow these steps:

1) Head down to the Unbreakable pop up shop at Blackmarket (hint: Orchard Central Level 2)

2) Put together an outfit, wearing one of the Unbreakable tees (be sure to bring along your own stash of skirt, pants or shorts coz there ain't many in stores)

3) Take a selfie in the dressing room and make sure your entire outfit from head to toe can be seen like what I did below:

Lastly, 4) Share it on Instagram with tags @unbreakablesg and #VWlovesKult by 7pm on 31st March. (which is also the last day of Unbreakable pop up shop!)

Three winners with the best looks will be announced by Kult two days after. Size request subject to availability. Only 50 tees are produced so hurry down to Blackmarket now!

Here's the roundup: Frill dress (worn as skirt) by blackheart, iPending necklace, thirtyfour clutch and Design&Play crimson tanned leather oxford - all available at Blackmarket.

OLD & NEW

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:01:00 +0000

Guys, it's not all about side shaved hair these days. Long, waxy hair is da shit! And with that ol' school beret and even ol' school glasses, I'm in love with Ahmad's style.

I was at Paul Smith's Spring/Summer 2013 shop launch last week where I met Ahmed who works as the flagship store's sales assistant. I know it's expected that his clothes are all sponsored from hat to toe (except for his accessories), and looking so awesomely preppy and cool is part of his job (he has two looks a year and gets to keep all of them!), I would very much consider a career change.

So you are entitled to Paul Smith's goodies but how do you stand out from your counterparts? Or so, turning the brand's signature into something of your own? Ahmad's hair, glasses and wrist accessories make all the difference. Berets have such a long history (worn since the Bronze Age) and Ahmad pairs the traditional headwear with his modern clothing so well, it looks relevant even today.

Style Tip: For a casual yet preppy look, wear the unexpected beret and never forget your ol' school glasses.

I am very intrigued by his skull bracelet. Ahmad managed to score a deal (at a very very VERY affordable price) at eBay! Never have I thought that eBay would be a fashion haven but better late then never right?

Here's the roundup: Beret, shirt, pants and shoes are all from Paul Smith, glasses from Haji Lane, skull bracelet from eBay and Balenciaga leather bracelet.

Off to eBay!

ONE MAN SHOW

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:00:00 +0000

The first time I found out about Singaporean menswear label, evenodd, was at our Men's Fashion Week 2011. Running solo for three years, the man behind the a cult following is self-taught designer, Samuel Wong. He graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts with a degree in fashion communication besides being a stylist and photographer. Wong is certainly a helluva multi-tasker!

Let's begin with his secondary logo for his brand shown above, Wong uses our closest connection to clothes - needless - and places it as a cross to explain the contrast of his design aesthetics: black vs white. He is one of the few local designers who dare to create a signature logo to go along with his designs. I like how subtle it is and it speaks certainly evenodd.

How does he do it? Wong didn't go through any formal design training at all. So naturally, he doesn't work with mood boards every season but finds an element that inspires him, and at the same time, creates a continuation from his previous collection. For Spring 2013, Wong was attracted to a particular photograph of a type of yarn and begun his manipulation, turning it into printed pieces that flew off the racks not only locally but internationally as well - via instagram! One of his shirts (below, left) went viral on the social network and the rest was history. Wong has his fair share of female shoppers too! #instagramftw

Besides creating his own prints, Wong is widely known for his black and white staples. He explained, 'evenodd is minimal, clean and edgy', and hopes to change the way people dress in Singapore, 'They dress too preppy.' His use of the stark contrast between black and white draws greater attention to his placement designs and technical manipulation of the conventional shirts such as the famous cropped top (a similar version can be found below in white) which was featured in Hypebeast's NYFW coverage here. Go SG designers!

You can imagine how much coverage evenodd had after its feature. But no no.. Wong ain't gonna reproduce them. That's not how he works. Wong limits the quantity to only 30 pieces per design and no matter how crazy they get, face it guys, there is NO REPEAT, NO MASS PRODUCTION. A bold decision indeed and one carefully thought of to keep evenodd a niche label even though it's positioned towards fast fashion instead of super highend luxury. With an affordable price range of S$63-249, Why not wait for the next collection and be one of the lucky 30 sporting another interesting design?

Wong uses fabrics that are made in Singapore and his entire production is also based in Singapore. He considers himself really lucky to be able to save on excessive production costs overseas. 'Since I was a kid, my parents will tailor clothes for me. I have a very close relationship with the tailor and she offered to produce my designs.' Talking about connections. 'Made in SG' goods, you have my support!

Wong gave me a sneak peek to what's in store this May. He chanced upon these cute round paillettes that can be easily ironed on and decided to explore all kinds of embellishments with it. Can't wait to see his end products!

Evenodd will be showing at the PARCO next NEXT show this Audi Fashion Festival where you can buy all the designs on the spot. So get ready!

_________________________________________________________________

Here are the five facts about Wong, exclusively for yours truly:

1. Wong made his career change from a communicator to a designer is just one day.

2. Wong thinks that he has a 欠扁 (qian bian) face meaning a face which is annoying and deserves a good spanking. (Personally, I don't think so!)

3. Wong has a habit of cutting his rice grains into halves before eating.

4. Both work and play are equally important to Wong.

5. Wong's favourite food is wanton mee, a.k.a. wonton noodles.
_________________________________________________________________

Find out more about my insight into other Singaporean designers here.

BASIC SPACE

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:06:00 +0000

I like Jamie. I like her vibe. I like her style. I like what she does - she is half the brainchild of Singaporean unisex label, 20:TWOTHREE and part of the barbering/creative team of Heist.

I first met Jamie at Zouk's Flea more than a year ago. I like how she creates two different seasonal looks thou wearing the same sheer skirt. Black may be Jamie's wardrobe staple but she still explores other styles by matching it with a variety of prints and textures.

Style Tip: If you must have something black in your ootd, the best way to freshen it up is to add something of a unique print or texture or colour to your ensemble.

Let's go back to her Fall look. Jamie prefers to go clean and edgy with the essentials such as her structured sling bag and wears no accessories of any sort. I'm a big fan of her oversized coat. It has a very soft and interesting layering at the back (very versatile!) and it looks great on guys too!

Here's the roundup: 20:TWOTHREE coat, thrifted skirt and bag, Cheap Monday shoes, socks from Japan.

IMMA ANGEL

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Street style is overrated, saturated and boring.

I've heard this many times and I agree that it's getting a little bit out of hand (especially at Fashion Weeks). Street style can be more than just full body or details shots. That's how Street Angel comes into the picture. See the blackboard I'm holding? When you go to the site today, you'll see me. There will also be other 'street angels' but instead of telling the date, they tell the time and it changes - every minute.

I love the concept. But it requires a lot of time and effort to find your subjects since most of them only have the site life of one minute. I'm not sure if he reuses the photos but one day has friggin' 1,440 minutes, which is 1,440 photos!! You win oreddy.

Behind Street Angel is Japanese duo photographer Noriaki and Chester. This is an ongoing project in Singapore and they've been doing it for three years. So why Singapore? 'It's safe. We like the weather and the cost of living is comparable to that of Tokyo. When we miss Japanese food, we can easily find the ingredients here to make them.'

Here's the roundup: Topshop blazer, Cheap Monday jeans, S U P E R M A M A necklace, FELDER FELDER cuff and Aldo shoes.

You win oreddy: A Singaporean slang where instead of the past tense, a change of state can be expressed by adding already (commonly pronounced as oreddy) or liao (/liɑ̂u/) to the end of the sentence, analogous to Chinese 了 (le).

BLACK, YOU'RE OUT.

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:47:00 +0000

Singapore is indeed a super tiny city filled with loads and loads of people. Running into your ex (or exs), colleagues, school mates, and acquaintances in town, a.k.a. Orchard Road happens all the time. So bumping into one of my street style subjects is like reuniting with an old friend!

The last time I met him was a year ago at the same place, Mandarin Gallery. You know what, there must be some sort of telepathy between us, I'm sure! But I still can't believe I didn't get his name, hence for now, I shall call him Mr. Lecturer.

I must say, sporting an outfit without black is not easy. You can't go wrong with black since it's a very safe colour that goes well with everything. So (almost) everybody wears something black all the time. I love how Mr. Lecturer does it without going overboard. He matches his printed shirt with a pair of military green pants.

Style Tip: A great way to tone down your printed top is to wear it with any plain-coloured bottom or vice versa.

If you take a closer look at Mr. Lecturer's shirt, you can spot his cute yellow zipper pocket. I don't know what I would put inside but it sure looks great! He's also one of the few guys who can pull off a guy's tote without looking too feminine. Now look at his sandals. The colour is amazing! I would never thought a traditional monk sandal can look this modern. Thumbs up!

Here's the roundup: HBNS shirt, Goyard bag, Zara pants, Bottega Veneta belt, Issue sandals and Rolex watch.

WILLY WONKA

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:45:00 +0000

I would very much love to receive my Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. But given that only five can be found out of a million chocolate bars distributed worldwide, (looking down at fat tummy) to receive one from ZALORA is as good as a dream come true especially for some RETAIL THERAPY!

Turning one is awesome for e-tailer ZALORA but even better for us, shoppers. All you need to do is spend SGD50 and above (they offer free shipping so every cent spent is entirely on shopping) and you'll receive a Golden Ticket together with your purchase. Apart from buying 4D or Toto with the 10-digit Golden Ticket Code, key it in here to find out what you've won. I'm talking about gift cards up to SGD1,000 (I won two zeros short, SGD10. Argh!), limited edition Havaianas Tote Bags, ZALORA limited edition collateral and up to SGD20,000 worth of prizes!

Here's your chance to receive a Golden Ticket from yours truly. Tell me when ZALORA's birthday is (hint: four days ago) and send your - answer, name, mailing address and mobile number - to me at vw.vionawang@gmail.com.

I'll be announcing the winner via Facebook next Monday, 11th March. So like my page if you haven't! Of course, you got to be residing in Singapore to qualify.

Time to do the math!

SHAKE IT UP!

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 06:23:00 +0000

I'm a fan of black. Well, who isn't? Black is the easiest and most flattering colour for everyone. But even I get sick of an all black outfit sometimes. More often than not, it reminds me of the backstage crew, dressers, ushers, bartenders... you get what I mean? The next time when you look into the mirror and spot a backstage crew lookalike, why not shake it up a little? By that, I don't mean you have to reset your whole styling process, but select one item (top, bottom, bag, shoes or earrings) and replace it with something of a different colour, print or texture like a knitted sweater. Believe me, it freshens up your entire outfit. Look at Miranda.

This is what I'm talking about! Miranda is the editor-in-chief of PoachedMag, a lifestyle news and events site based in Singapore. Instead of a full monochrome look, Miranda opted for a vintage printed skirt that looks simply amazing (it's from her Mum btw). I like how she paired it with the unexpected hardware necklace - hard vs soft. And especially the way she mixes luxury brands with high street favourites. Who says you can't rock a pair of Dr. Martens boots and Prada bag at the same time?

Here's the roundup: Sweater, H&M; Necklace, Topshop; Skirt, Vintage Arthur Yen; Bag, Prada; Shoes, Dr. Martens.

VINSTAGWAM #3

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:47:00 +0000

#Vinstagwam, a.k.a Viona's weekly Instagram roundup is just column which shares with you, readers who prefer to enjoy viewing images on a larger screen rather than squinting your eyes on your teeny weeny smart phones. It's an extension to behind-the-instagram stories on when, where, how, why I share my images with you. Not necessarily fashion-related, these photos can be taken from anywhere and has a special place in my heart. Starting clockwise from left, here's a sneak peek into my adventures!

1) Family roots: Grandma looking sleek and chic! (third from left, taken in China)
I recently got in touch with my uncle (my grandfather's younger brother's son) during Chinese New Year and he invited my family and I to check out his timber factory. While hanging out with him in his office, he shared with me his collection of super old photos (almost ancient!) taken when he was a kid (he was born in the Fujian province, China), before embarking on a journey to Singapore at barefly 10 years old. See the baby boy right smack in the middle? Yeah, that's him. The ultra cute baby wearing traditional shorts with holes at the front and back for easy peeing and popping.

The lady carrying him is my great grandmother. She's da BIG SISTA yo! And to her right, the poised lady with a white Cheongsam top is my grandmother! The rest of the ladies are my aunts (my grandfather's sister-in-laws) and the dudes, my grandfather's younger bros. I've never seen my grandmother so young before (by the time I grew up, she's already in her 60s). She's 93 now. I'm a sucker for old school photos, so imagine how thrilled I was!

2) Hanging out with Kate at the ELLE office!
It was Throwback Thursday - the perfect day for me to show off my photo with Kate! This was taken two years ago in 2011 when I was interning at ELLE.com in the Big Apple. Thank God my seat was next to the fashion room which was next to Kate's office. The sight of Kate walking pass my table was always breathtaking. It's like my world pauses for a moment as I admire her, her outfit, her hair, her everything until she disappears into her office. Yes, I admit, I'm a Kate stalker (and super proud of it!).

So this day happened when I simply when out of my head and decided to knock on Kate's door. She was at the desk and turned and looked at me. I was literally hyperventilating! So I calmed myself down and introduced myself, 'Hi! I'm an ELLE.com intern from Singapore and I was just wondering if you can take a look at my resume and give me some advice on my career path?' At that moment, I was so prepared to be turned down and never ever gonna face myself to Kate again. But Kate responded in her uber cool tone, 'Sure! Let's arrange for an appointment sometime next week,' looked at her online calendar and turned towards me, 'how about next Tuesday?' The rest was history. Wanna know what happened after?

3) What an apt setting for the arrival for (kite) Spiderman! #nofilter #latergram
Did you know that kite-flying is almost impossible in Singapore mainly due to its crazy and unpredictable weather? I've postponed reminiscing my favourite childhood pastime three days before I decided to just try my luck last Friday. It was sunny all afternoon, driving my hopes so high until the mighty dark clouds gathered at 5ish p.m. Too bad I was already at Marina Barrage flying my kite, a.k.a. Buffalo Wings, now with the fear of getting strike by lightning. But no, heaven was too kind. Clouds began to clear, giving way to an opening of amazing, jaw-dropping light rays. Imagine the arrival of a Goddess or an Angel from the sky. You know the natural (first world) reaction: I have to instagram this! But this shot with Spiderman isn't accidental. The cutest, tongue-in-cheek superhero kite I've seen so far has Spidey holding on to the thread while flying.

4) How did illustrator Mikito Ozeki manage to create this mega huge cutout?! #dope
By the time you read this, (I'm sorry) the art exhibition showcasing nine street artists from Japan, Tokyo Street has ended. But you can still check it out, in a form of press release at the organiser, Ikkan Art International's website. This particular artwork is by the renown cutout artist Mikito Ozeki. He basically uses his penknife and cuts out all kinds of shapes and sizes on a plain piece of paper (this one of an urban robot is especially huge. It's at least 5m long!). Note: he does it without any prior planning. WTF?! Yeah, that was my first reaction too. It's too f**king cool not to share with you! I seriously hope he collaborates with a fashion designer soon!

Till next week! In the meantime, follow #Vinstagwam here.

RAD RED GIRL

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 05:28:00 +0000

Red top, red jacket, red bag, red shoes and red socks, Issa's look is red hot like fire! I first met Issa at an event two years back and shot her for a freelance street style feature. I knew I had to meet Issa again to share with you one of her outfits and more importantly, the details that summed it all up.

The lead designer of local lingerie line Les Affaires and a style blogger, Issa not only has an eye for styling but loves to mix luxury brands with high street and travel finds. I like how she balances her red pieces with a striking printed pencil skirt - perfect to prevent a colour overload. With such a bold outfit, Issa chose to wear silver accessories to torn it down a little. Great investment on silver pieces I say, they are classic and so versatile.

Check out her Comme des Garçons manicure! Thou I may not be a crazy nail art girl (I'm so addicted to peeling them off you won't see mine last for a week) but this is super cute and I would do whatever it takes to make sure my hearts are in perfect condition.

Here's a roundup: Shades, from Taiwan; Jacket, from online; Top, Kenzo; Skirt, from Korea; Bag, Balenciaga; Bracelets, Hermès H bracelet, other two from Far East Plaza; Manicure, Nails Paradise; Shoes, Dolce Vita.

JUST CRUISIN'.

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:42:00 +0000

While you are feasting on Chinese New Year goodies or Fashion Week coverage (feasting is loosely used for Fashion Week solely because of its tasty nature with designs we simply wanna devour), as late as this post can be or rather not since the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2013 collection is in stores now, what you see here is what you can get immediately.

I was invited to the media preview sometime last year and I have loads of favourites to share with you. I'm in love with the platform sandals (buy: metallic ankle strap sandal (second image below) at SGD1,884) that give you height without compromising your comfort. They aren't as steep as heels but are just as gorgeous. What's more important? You can stand for longer hours and walk further distance, extending your style radar signal to the next event and many after.

Striking geometric play on jacquard (i.e. fabric with an intricately woven pattern, see close-up shot of LV buttons and ribbon loafers) are inspired by optical artist Vasarely's work. The print, combined with the woven texture, looks amazing on both the coat and loafers, don't you think?

Here's a refreshing take on Singapore's-weather-appropriate cut-outs. I like how a variety of shapes in varying sizes are created, including the cute polka-dotted ruffles as extra topping for the blouse. On a side note, imagine the amazing tanning shapes you get after a day at the beach. I would definitely werk it! Me ain't no big fan of leopard print but I will totally wear the Singapore's-weather-inappropriate-but-perfect-for-everywhere-else jacket. The contrasting floral outlines and leopard print (perfect placements btw) is in such an unexpected mix. And finally, fans of the Speedy, you've got a new addition in an awesome shade of purple.

If you reside in Singapore, I recommend you to take trip to the LV Island Maison at MBS. Otherwise, find your nearest store here and shop away!

VINSTAGWAM #2

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:09:00 +0000

Pardon my absence for past few days. Was occupied (still am actually. My cousins are playing mahjong in the living room at this moment right now) with one of my favourite events of the year, Chinese New Year (#cny). Schedule was packed with spring cleaning, relatives visiting, mahjong playing and finally ang bao ($$$ gift which the younger ones receive from their seniors) collecting. Now you know why it's one of my favourite events of the year.

If you've been following me on #Vinstagwam (otherwise, you should!), you would have seen some of my black and white street shots (taken when I was in New York two years ago) prior to the first day of New York Fashion Week. I had a BLAST attending the fashion shows and I have so many more fashion and non-fashion related photos to share with you. But before that, allow me to take you a trip down memory lane last week (starting clockwise from top left).

1) 'Konnichiwa to my virgin art collection - 'Whisper' by SG painter Zaya'
This painting, the first to kick start V's art collection, was a gift from my guy. He received it when he met the Singaporean artist Zaya and knowing me best, he decided to give it to me. Thou it ain't the actual painting (digital print), I can still admire its details, especially the kimonos worn by the traditional Japanese ladies (possibly geishas). If you take a closer look, the lady on the left wears a tiger design while the other a dragon. I love it so much I went to buy a frame immediately and now it holds a special place in my room where I get to see it every day.

2) 'Neon lights are back in action!'
With so many LED lights, I thought I would have never seen neon signs (except for names of old night clubs) ever again. But when I went to Haji Lane last week, this clothing store caught my eye from far and I just couldn't take my eyes off it. O-Mighty is a known for their vintage clothing and tongue-in-cheek ol' school interior. They have tonnes of clothes and accessories for sale, you need one full day to sift through their racks of quirky designs. They have an online shop too!

3) 'And the feasting begins... #cantresist'

Well.. who can? These ain't sugar-coated cocktail sausages (as perceived by my guy), they are the mega-awesome PINEAPPLE TARTS! Available all year round with the perfect balance of pineapple filling and crust, given its calories content unfortunately, my family decided to eat it once a year so imagine when I had the honour to peel the scotch tape around it and reveal its greatness. I had to capture the moment. Fancy a try of my childhood most wanted #cny snack worth every calorie count? Two words: Bengawan Solo.

4) 'I have never considered used paper cups as an inspiration but why not?'
I photographed this girl in recycled paper cups while I was camping outside Calvin Klein's SS'12 show. She suddenly appeared out of nowhere, obviously seeking for some attention from the paparazzi and obviously got her point across - Recycled products for fashion? Or paper cups can be an inspiration! You decide.

Till next week! In the meantime, follow #Vinstagwam here.

TAKE A BOW

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 04:17:00 +0000

Ribbon bow ties are super rare to spot on the streets, especially in Singapore. But in Japan, school girls everywhere wear all kinds of ribbon bow ties ranging from the short Sailormoon-like to slim long ones, just like what Venetia (who also blogs at Fashion On Your Feet) is wearing. I'm not referring to those cute little ones most guys wear for the preppy look, these are more elaborated pieces with no standard shapes and sizes. They are usually slightly larger, oversized and easily tied using ribbons of varying colours and designs. It's amazing how I managed to spot three guys wearing three different types of ribbon bow ties but unfortunately, none of them are Singaporeans.

I like how Venetia adds prints and textures to her classic black and white look. Her H&M blouse has a feminine yet subtle floral print while her Preen for Aldo Rise graphic peep-toe booties is like a walking piece of art (don't forget your pedicures!). Leather shorts and clutch are great for matching as well. Topping it off, Venetia ties a braid on her fringe. Small details do count to look extra stylish!

Venetia wears bow tie and shorts from Topshop, blouse from H&M, blazer from The Scarlet Room, clutch from Korea and shoes from Preen for Aldo Rise.

I personally own a black ribbon bow tie and I got it from a gift - it was used as a ribbon for the gift box How's that for saving an extra buck?

VINSTAGWAM #1

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:17:00 +0000

Yes, it's my version of Instagram, hence, allow me to introduce the #Vinstagwam! Instagram is part of our lives now, after the explosion of social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, gosh, when does the list stop? Everyone's a sucker for beautiful photos right? Based on a recent research, #1 Instagram hashtag goes to #love and #2 to #instagood (er.. I'm not sure exactly how this hashtag catagorises photos so it's not counted) and #3 goes to #me.

Who doesn't love #love? I do. But sadly, I don't post photos about it unless it's V day or something heart shaped? Of course, Instagram is a perfect medium for all the narcissists in the world to share with the world photos of themselves. Let's not go there. So what I am doing with #Vinstagwam is to share with you a weekly roundup of four of my favourite or most popular photos on my Instagram. It ain't easy to think of a good caption all the time when you're on the move and sometimes these captions don't explain the entire story behind the photo. Sharing them on Twitter with a 140 characters limit ain't gonna get the story across either. So here goes my virgin #Vinstagwam (starting chronologically, clockwise from top left):

1) 'Still can't (get) enough of Gotye and Kimbra live last night!'
This is one music event in Singapore I'll never miss for the world - Laneway Festival. Danced in the rain at its launch in 2011, enjoyed the perfect spot (standing in the middle of the stages and the slope at Fort Canning for an eye-level view) when they first introduced two stages in 2012 and this time round, I screamed my hearts out for Alt-J, Of Monsters And Men, Tame Impala and then lost my voice when Kimbra joined Gotye on stage for the all-time favourite, Somebody I Used To Know. I was so close, just four rows away. Imagine the epic-ness.

2) 'I dreamed a dream, that the beauty of nature will set me free.'
I usually share my travel photos and non-fashion or street style related photos on Instagram. This particular shot was taken two years go on a beach in Mornington, Australia. My family and I were on our way back when I spotted this lady out there, as though searching for something. I'm not sure what she was looking for but I love the idea that sometimes, a landscape photo of nature looks a lot better when a human being was captured in the shot. In a way, we can't do without nature and nature can't do without us.

3) 'It's a floral pump party at Robe Raiders! Nicholas Kirkwood's awesomeness.'
We don't get to see Nicholas Kirkwood's shoes up close here in Singapore so I was blown away when I found a pair at Robe Raiders' latest showroom sale. Too bad it's size 37.5 (too small). I would love to afford it secondhand but it's still way out of my budget. Love how Nicholas Kirkwood paired floral prints with bold black lines and made it look so pretty.

4) 'Mosaic Sky'
ION Orchard has been around for a few years now. If I remember correctly, it used to be an amusement park where loads of Filipinos were hanging out. It's inevitable that another shopping mall popped up at Orchard Road but ION Orchard made itself a landmark in our shopping district with its amazing architecture and retail space. I took this shot while I was waiting for a friend.

Follow #Vinstagwam here.

THE DREADLOCKS ROUTE

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:31:00 +0000

Let's take a trip down Dreadlocks Route, we've got the world famous Bob Marley, pirate Jack Sparrow, Lenny Kravitz in his signature hair rocking his Are You Gonna Go My Way music vid and my favourite dreadlocks moment of rapper/stripper (best job combi for a girl for guys) Brooke Candy in Grimes' Genesis music vid. Of course, the Dreadlocks Route wouldn't have been so popular if not for Lady Gaga.

As much as I love to see people in dreadlocks, I personally wouldn't try it. Partly because my endurance for pain it too low to stand the five hour process, I'm too lazy to maintain it (more time and effort than maintaining my current purple and red hair), I can't stand not being able to scratch my hair when it's itchy and I'd look awfully weird in it (I need some fringe to cover my fat face).

Over the years, I've realised more Singaporeans have taken the Dreadlocks Route. In fact, I just saw two girls sporting really long ones yesterday at Haji Lane. Elden (above), who is currently waiting for his enlistment, has been dreadlocking for 6 months now. It's much cheaper to get it done outside of Singapore so Elden first went to Thailand and now goes back to Johor Bahru for maintenance. With the tribal headband, eye brow piercing and ear gauges, Elden's dreadlocks is just an icing on his hippy cake.

Next up is Kiki. Dreadlocking isn't a temporary commitment for her - she's a permanent resident (PR) in Dreadlocks Lane (where the Dreadlocks Route leads to). I like how she adds beads to her dreadies for some extra colours. We can do that to our normal hair too but with thicker strands, comes with larger beads and of course, bigger impact. Kiki loves it so much she said she has finally found her look. Gosh, I'm still looking for mine.

And finally, we have media student Yong Xian, the New Dreadlocker on the Block/Route/Lane. When I spotted him in town, he just got it done at Far East Plaza. Sporting a side shaved look with bright blue streaks and thicker locks (see how hard his are compared to Elden's), Yong Xian takes dreadlocking to a completely different level.

What Elden, Kiki, Yong Xian and possibly Bob Marley, Brooke Candy and the rest have in common is that to them, dreadlocking not only changes their ordinary appearance but is a form of self-expression.

I had so much fun using 'dreadlocker' and 'dreadlocking' but does 'dreadies' sound better than 'dreadlocks'?

SHARK ATTACK

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:42:00 +0000

We've awed at the shark tooth necklace on Givenchy's 2012 runway. Finally, I got to see, touch and feel it in person. A helluva statement necklace! This is one of the reasons why I enjoy street style so much - like how they always put it, you get to watch it translated from the runway to the real way.

Jireh, a final fashion student from NAFA, shares his tip on layering in humid Singapore: wear your sweater over a sleeveless shirt instead (note: sleeveless) instead of a standard shirt. This way, you won't sweat too much and nobody will notice it either. Your sleeves won't add too much faux volume to your body as well, creating a slightly over-sized you.

I like how Jireh wears muted colours to draw more attention to the different types of textures in his ootd: knitted Topshop sweater, geometric Issey Miyake's Bao Bao and pony hair Dr. Martens.

Exactly one more week left for you to own a uniquely Singaporean t-shirt from local label, Roof Industries. Find out how here.

YOUR CUP OF TEE

noreply@blogger.com (viona) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:49:00 +0000

I'm sure you'll agree me: T-shirts are amongst the most comfortable garments ever created. Unisex, easy to put on and with so many designs to choose from, t-shirts have been and will always be part of my life - more than 30 of them. A continuation from Go With The Tee, I like to share with you how you can actually wear your old or new T-shirts out (instead of using them as your PJs or camping throw-aways or rags) and look great in it. We've covered pairing tees with high waisted bottoms, denim jackets and statement earrings for a more formal occasion, while with sleeves rolled up for a more casual take if the weather gets too hot. This may sound a bit too ambitious and weather inappropriate, but shall we give layering a go?

To begin, choose a shirt that is either sheer (above) or thin cotton material. The thing about adding a shirt is that its collar and sleeves create a more formal and preppy look. Depending on your personal preference, you can button all the way up and fold your sleeves over the tee (for me, the sleeves of my neon shirt is rather short and loose so I decided to tie and hide it). If this look isn't preppy enough, feel free to add a funky bow tie or to add some glamour, a statement necklace. Colour blocking fans out there, it's time to play matchy-matchy (the higher the contrast, the better!). Otherwise, going monochromatic and wear two different shades of the same hue is also a great idea.

Here's the rundown: T shirt (S size), Roof Industries; Neon shirt, Necessary Clothing; Pants, Uniqlo; The Beatles Clutch, Studio Manhattan; Cuff (middle), FELDER FELDER; Bracelets (first and third), from Cambodia; Sneakers, Converse via NET-A-PORTER.

I'm giving away three T-shirts from Roof Industries! If you like my 'Singlish* Scrabble' tee, you'll definitely love the other designs - all with a unique Singaporean touch. Check them out here.

Three steps to win a T-shirt of your choice:

1) Like Roof Industries' Facebook page here (You know the drill. Like my blog's page and of course, this post)

2) Email me (at vw.vionawang@gmail.com) your favourite T-shirt design and why you love it so much

3) Pray hard I announce your name on my page or Twitter :)

Contest ends on 31st January 2359 for Singapore residents only, and winners will be revealed the next day. Take your pick now!

*According to Wiki, Singlish is also known as Colloquial Singaporean English, an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore.