It’s that time of the year that’s not too hot nor too cold- Spring – Summer 2016 is finally here! And what better way to celebrate the season than to bask under the sun in the hottest trends there is– a definite favorite for a busy girl like me: RESORT WEAR. Wanderlust is never a crime and I can’t wait to get my hands on these perfect vacation outfits.
Dress, Shoes & Bag by Thomas Wylde
As featured on CVLUX Magazine
Photography by
Having a signature look is what defines you, It represents your own personal style and It is the best start for your fun style journey.
Being unique doesn’t mean you have to be bold and different in every way. Unique means that you’ll be able to stand out, let’s put it this way you’re at a tea party and when you entered the room a lady from the corner table is also wearing the same turquoise skirt that you have on. How do you stand out girl?
Make sure that whatever clothes you’re going to buy fits you perfectly, it hugs your body on right places
Consider the fabric and texture, find clothes that will flow and accentuate your features
Accessorize! Accessorize! To help the outfit stand out find the right accessories to match your dress, but remember less is more. Too much component can make you look like a chandelier.
Make up, it is not required to wear it every day or whenever you go out even a natural look can be your signature, you just have to check your face and skin, pamper yourself once in a while to freshen up and to wake up your inner glow. If ever you have to put on make-up, yes definitely it is fine but then again ladies LESS IS MORE you wouldn’t want to look like a clown or even a zombie with those beauty products that you put on, the key is find your asset, if it is your eyes, focus on making them pop up, if it is your lips make that as a highlight on your face.
This beautiful tea time garden setting was taken at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Photography by Mandy Aileen | Gorgeous Pink Gown Designed by FIZIWOO
Makeup by Anna Sherie
Going green this St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t just mean making sure to recycle any beer bottles you see lying around after a party. Because I love any excuse for dressing up, naturally an excuse to rock green on St.Patty’s appeal to me. But there is no reason why I can’t still look amazing while doing so.
By the way – Tradition has it that wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns who might pinch you. Just be careful picking the green that looks good with your coloring. And though Ireland may be the Emerald Isle, but there are other green gemstones. Which are you?
Emerald: This gemstone is bold and vibrant and the color looks best on dark brunettes/black hair, warm blondes, and those with warm/darker skin tones. Warm undertones generally have a yellow and gold tinge to them. Other colors that flatter your Emerald tone, are other vibrant greens such as Kelly green.
Jade: This stone often has a bluish tint. You’re a jade if you’re fair and have a cool undertone (pinkish or bluish tint.) You probably have ash blonde, grey, or platinum hair. Shades of green that will look good on a Jade woman, are pastels such as mint green. Teal and forest green will also compliment your skintone.
Peridot: This gem is likely yellowish green and looks best on redheads and those with golden brown hair. Olive green will look best on you.
Let Ireland keep their Blarney Stone while you opt for a more precious one. Green is thought to attract growth in all areas including wealth, health and happiness. Those strike me as better reasons to wear green than trying to avoid those nipping leprechauns.
Today (March 8th) is International Women’s Day ( PS: Personally I think every day is a good day to honor women) and so when FTD.com reached out to me and asked me to collaborate with them to write this post for their #ilooktoher campaign and to mention one woman whom I think has inspired me in some way it was a no-brainer – yes of course I would say yes.
Long before female journalist Zoe Barns showed up on House of Cards, Murphy Brown (on the show of the same name) blazed onto the small screen in my house in the late 1980s. I was mesmerized by the character’s strength, take-no-prisoners attitude and ability to strive in a typically male dominated field. Every week I would watch Murphy as she strode into the office, shoulder pads squared and hair styled to perfection, her appearance immaculate. Furthermore, she was more than her looks and stylish attire. Smart, sassy and intelligent, she epitomizes the hashtag #likeaboss, even before such a thing existes. And so with such an inspiration I suppose I never doubted that women should make waves in the corporate sector or in business, doting boyfriend/husband completely optional.
Not only did Murphy Brown stride into the office in stylish slacks and blazers – defying the usual, boring and overly-girly attire seen on television back then – but she was on a par with any man in her professional realm. I wanted to be that character. Down to the neck-scarves and sassy retorts such as “And why do you guys need a movement in the first place? Tired of getting higher pay for the same jobs?” She was a beautiful, tough woman who refused to play by the boys-school rules.
At the same time, Murphy Brown treated her colleagues and friends as equals and with the sort of respect and warmth beneath her gruff exterior, that caused them to rally around her through thick or thin. What more could a young girl aspire to?
As we celebrate International Women’s Day today, I hope that you too will reflect on the women who influenced you, motivated you, and encouraged you. Do better than just reflect on them – if you can, tell them. Show them. Send them some flowers to say “thank you for helping me blossom into the person I am today.” If I could send them to Murphy Brown, I would. What kind of flowers do you think she’d like? I’m guessing some sort of orchid – blessed with a long-life and much stronger than its outward beauty implies.
Thank you FTD.com for sponsoring this post.
To follow the campaign on Instagram, search for #ILookToHer or follow me on Instagram here
If there’s one more thing I’m head over heels in love with– it’s FOOD! Glorious, glorious FOOD! More so if they look as stunning as the picture above taken back during my stay at The Majestic Hotel. If you’re aiming for that Instagram worthy Foodie Shot or just want to leave your guests drooling with these beautifully set meals, then check out my stylish dining must-haves!
Gorgeous high tea setting at The Majestic Hotel | Photography by Mandy Aileen
Wardrobe Investments
Sometimes, you’ll have to make an investment. This means that you’ll have to pay more for certain items in your wardrobe. Now don’t think of this as unnecessary luxury. You’re not spending extra because you want to feel special. Instead, you’re spending a bit more money because you want this wardrobe staple to last for years. As mentioned repeatedly, you’re building your foundation. If your foundation is weak, nothing else you pile on it will work out make it work. Since you are working on something as important as your fashion foundation, you can’t afford to deal with disposable pieces that won’t last past more than one season.
So when buying an investment piece – the last thing you should care about are labels. Instead, you should learn to look at the fabric, the craftsmanship, and all the small details that contribute to the item’s longevity. There are two things you want in a wardrobe investment. One, the item has to remain in good shape for years to come. Two, the item should look classic and timeless – it should never go out of style. Your goal is to become an educated consumer,. where unnecessarily expensive items no longer sway you. You want to pick out items that are classic and well made. Quality and timelessness are all you need for your investment pieces.
One thing you’ll have to work on is the matter of identifying the difference between cheap and inexpensive. The two seem like synonyms, but they are not. There are a people who use these words interchangeably but that’s only because they don’t understand the difference. When using these words – as pertaining to fashion – you will realize that these are far from synonyms and in fact have very different implications.
Cheap does not always pertain to the price. When something is “cheap”, this can refer to the poor quality or shoddy material used. Some designer brands are guilty of creating “cheap” products even when charging very high prices. Something can look “cheap”, too, by being too risqué. Sometimes, it’s the material that makes the item look cheap. If, of example, you buy a clothing item that’s completely made of synthetic materials it can often look cheap.
Inexpensive items, on the other hand, are affordable but well-made items. They are high quality, and can even look expensive because of the materials used. While people look at “cheap” items and wonder which flea market they came from, inexpensive items can still to wow people. They may even ask you for advice to see if they can buy the same item for themselves.
Your goal is not to fool people into thinking you bought something designer-made or expensive. What you want is to find something relatively affordable but made from of good materials and with high quality craftsmanship. And for me, finding these timeless well made items is worth investing time in.
Happy Shopping!
While a heart of gold is something to admire in the rest of the world, in Hollywood it’s all about the gold statue – winning an Oscar is the pinnacle of success in The Golden State. So let’s look at how the gold Academy Award can be reflected in gold accessories for the work-desk where we all want to succeed.
For every Oscar-nominated film, there’s a corresponding desk accessory to consider.
1. Gone With the Wind. Nothing will be blown away by the wind if you get these adorable paperclips by Kate Spade.
2. The Razor’s Edge. This elegant peacock letter opener from Jonathan Adler is far superior in function and looks than any ordinary razor’s edge opener. I have this at home and it looks beautiful by itself on the entryway console.
3. The Hours. Opt for a traditional clock with a feminine, whimsical edge.
4. Cleopatra. Not only is this snake a fun talking-point, but it’s a magnifying glass for those times you don’t want to reach for your reading glasses but can’t read the fine print.
5. The Sound of Music. Dock your iphone or iPad on this gold accessory and listen to your music, or just charge your gadget, all with elegance.
6. Silver Linings Playbook. OK, so this Kate Spade one is lined with gold polka-dots, but it can still serve as your work-notebook for all your ideas.
7. Letters from Iwo Jima. From seeJanework.com comes this letter holder with an ampersand, heart or dots imprinted in gold.
8. The Reader. For the readers out there (and aren’t we all?!?) these gilded rock bookends are from Z Gallerie.
9. On Golden Pond. This S’well gold water bottle will look elegant on your desk while it reminds you to stay hydrated.
10. And don’t forget Chocolat. These chocolate truffles covered with edible gold and housed in an office-serious wooden box are the icing on the cake so to speak.
No one wins every time, but at least you can always feel like a winner when you surround yourself with touches of gold. And feeling like a winner is half the battle that leads you to success. Dress your playing field accordingly.
