For the Logo-Phobic

A great article about an intimate retailer who caters to customers who shuns trends for the logo-maniac. Her customers would remove logo tags from their designer bags before using them. According to Ms Yuta Powell in her New York salon, her boutique is about "style, not fashion." Read about this at the Wall Street Journal.

Contribution for his indomitable spirit

This is a style blog and this may be another odd entry but I just have to write this down cause he has inspired respect and admiration for his indomitable spirit.

You may have read in the Straits Times last Friday about Mr Abu Bakar Evos, a Malaysian worker in Singapore who lost both his legs in a paper recycling accident. Despite what happened, he was amazingly optimistic and expressed gratitude that he still had his 2 hands. Changi General Hospital ("CGH") where he had his operation has set up a temporary system to help collect public donations on his behalf during his stay at CGH.

If you like to make a contribution, you can make a cheque to to "Changi General Hospital Pte Ltd". Please write a note indicating that the fund is for Mr Abu Bakar Evos, and to write down your name, NRIC number, contact number and mailing address so that CGH can send you an official receipt (non tax-exempted).

Please mail the cheque with note to:
Ms Chang Sook Mei
Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs Department
Changi General Hospital
2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889

Glam Shades

While I have been toying with the idea of getting another pair of shades to add variety to my current Mango avaiator shades, I have not been seriously looking out for them.

My colleagues and I were talking about our shades during a to-satisfy-my-junkfood-craving lunch at McDonald's today, so I just decided to peep at the Bottega Veneta ones after looking through the leather cuffs.

I simply love the first pair of brown gingham acetate shades! The 2nd pair with tiny butterflies on the frame are beautiful too (I do have some faint memory of seeing this pair a few months ago).

Bottega Veneta Cuffs

Just when I was on the look out for cuffs, I saw these Bottega Veneta ones in the Dec 2007 issue of Female. I love the color combination of red and black; the 2nd one from the top is my favourite!

Dresses for Blythe

Cutesy dresses from etsy for my Blythe. Handmade with pretty Mary Had a Little Lamb and Hansel & Gretel fabrics. Photos courtesy of etsy seller.

These are so lovely that I wish they were made in life size!

Silver Cuff

Last month, I saw this pretty and confident girl wearing a black dress walking along the street. However what caught my attention the most was this bright and shiny silver cuff on her arm and I have been obsessed since to look for a similar one.

This sleek Simon Sebbag contoured cuff is just perfect. So elegant and chic. Practically timeless.

Hope

This is probably an odd place for an entry like this, but someone's indomitable spirit touched me greatly and I needed to write it down.

Today's The Straits Times carried an article about a waste recyling firm worker Mr Abu Bakar Evos, an odd-job labourer from Sabah, Malaysia working in Singapore. He is married with 2 young children and with a third child on the way.

Mr Abu Bakar lost both his legs in an accident on Tuesday; his left leg could not re-attached after an operation attempt, while his right leg, which was badly mangled by a paper compactor had to be amputated.

Faced with this situation, Mr Abu Bakar said, "Thank God I still have my two hands."

Elmer the Patchwork Elephant

Isn't this the cutest coin purse ever? It's in the shape of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, a creation by David McKee. Elmer is cheerful and optimistic (which is what I really need now).

I'm shivering in my skin as I type this entry, been running a fever since a few days ago. I'm back with a short entry today as I just didn't want to leave you girls for too long :D .

Creature Handphone Strap

After watching Lions for Lambs (which we liked) at Orchard Cineleisure, we strolled around the shops on the 3rd storey when I saw this cute handphone strap in one of the display cabinets. The creature is made from a white pvc material with silver glitter and has button eyes and a felt belly button. I love that it is wearing a peach colored necklace.

I love it but my boyfriend doesn't. But he bought it for me anyway. :D

Miss Sixty Denim Overalls

Sherie read about my liking for the skinny suspenders look and was so nice to inform me about this pair of skinny denim jeans (with suspenders) which she bought from Miss Sixty. I'm sure she looks really gorgeous in them!

I promptly checked it out on Tuesday (while on leave and after a session at the gym, of course!) and loved the look so much I bought a pair as well.

I'm not inclined towards the gold flowy top worn by the model above and will pair it with a pair of ankle boots and a sleeveless top with red/white/black portraits ala Andy Warhol; the print of the sleeveless top is similar to the top in the photo below:

Flat abs needed for this look, I am now more motivated than ever to exercise off any excess. :D

Damien Hirst Pill Charm Bracelets

Damien Hirst's limited edition 18K gold charm bracelets with 17 different casts of pills. An interesting take on the dichotomy of science and art. It's beautiful in a strange way, touching yet emotionally detached and cold. Made in limited editions of 10 pieces. Also available in silver below:

Damien Hirst is perhaps most famous for his controversial diamond encrusted skull, a life-size skull cast in platinum of an actual man who lived in circa 18th or 19th century and covered with more than 8,000 diamonds.

Colorful Heeled Sneakers

This is my first pair of sneakers in a long time. It looks like a flat-heeled pair of shoes but has hidden heels inside. I can look taller than I actually am. I like this sneaky pair of sneakers.

Bronze with gold highlights, crystals, sequins, embroidery aka the whole flamboyant works haha! The colors are so rich and some how reminds me of a peacock. The lamb-skin interior is very comfortable as well.

I'm pleased with this 5-minute done deal purchase from a small shop in International Plaza. I love the colors!

Elastic-band Wedges

I was on half-day leave this afternoon to run an errand with Mum. After completing our task, we went to Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City to grab a couple of books. On the way there, we side-tracked into Pedder Red at Ngee Ann City and I bought this pair of elastic-band wedges which is so so comfortable to wear! I love the woody wedge and the criss-cross of the bands. This will be great for a casual day out with jeans or capris.

I run every Wednesdays with colleagues from Shenton Way to Marina South. Since today is an exception, I dutifully jogged around the neighbourhood in the evening. :D

Pink Leather Jacket

After a movie at Vivocity yesterday, we passed by the already closed-for-the-day Armani Exchange boutique when this pink leather jacket in the window beckoned at me. While it was lust at first sight for Ms Hyde, Dr Jekyll is asking herself where she can wear a leather and very pink jacket to, in warm and humid Singapore.

Leather Cuffs

Ever since I saw this Erickson Beamon patent leather cuff with black embellishment, I have been conveting it religiously. I'm not into the gaunt rock chick look but this patent leather accessory is so cool. I love the shape, the glossiness of the patent (my obsession with patent leather is working up again) and the contrast of the stones with the gold trimmings.

Gold Hello Kitty Poker Cards

The ultimate sign that Hello Kitty is getting into your head if you had rushed out to buy this (don't get me wrong, I like the cat with no mouth too, just not to this extent). Each Hello Kitty poker card is made from 0.73gms of 99.99% gold.

In his own words, here's "One Man's Life with Cute Overload".

Lace Up Oxfords

When I saw this pair of oxfords in the Bally's display window at Ngee Ann City last Saturday, I almost skipped into the boutique with delight. By some sheer imagination, parallax error and bad eyesight, I thought that the shoes displayed on a lower shelf in the window was a pair of low to mid- heeled oxfords (I have been looking for a mid-heeled pair for the past 2 months). I was sorely disappointed to realise in the boutique that it was actually a pretty high-heeled pair.

So stylish in cream and black color combination and in a patent and suede contrast, I was almost tempted to get them. However, I decided eventually to continue the search for a pair in a more moderate height. Even in the name of beauty, there is a limit as to how much "torture" my feet can take.

Alexander McQueen Gothic Clutch

Black patent leather mini hard box clutch from Alexandra McQueen with a gorgous Swarovski bejeweled skull clasp. Darkly romantic clutch to add a gothic style to your look. From net-a-porter. Love this.

Cassette Tapes Born Again as Ipod Nano Holders

Recycled audio cassette tapes as ipod nano holders, designed by contexture, a Canada-based design firm. 45ipodcases. Cool. I love the irony. Music through the ages.

My Outfit Today

Wearing my 2 new gold and turquoise belts together with olive green ribbed pedal-pushers, black top with puffy sleeves (which a laundry shop wanted to charge me for dry-cleaning as a dress when it is too short for me as a dress!) and a pair of polka-dotted high-heeled sandals. Glam it up with my favourite SOOT bracelet.

Belt Up!

Without realising it, I bought 3 belts over the past 10 days, of which 1 is a brown elasticated Topshop look-alike from Chinatown. I did not realise that they were so similar until I visited Topshop Isetan the very same day. See the Topshop version below:Belts are so perfect for updating a wardrobe and creating a more fitted waistline. The other 2 belts are a gold PVC one with a square buckle and a turquoise one with a round buckle from Hitachi Towers. I could use them separately or belt them up together for a multi-color, multi-band look.

Some designer ones that I found online: I especially the gorgeous Missoni brown leather lattice belt with brass studs. It's so architecturally beautiful and simply stylish! I like this Fendi chunky ribbed belt with a large green stone too. It makes a simple black dress stand out in an elegant way:

From net-a-porter.

Dr Seuss Tees

Dr Seuss' Cat in the Hat tees for nostalgic fun. The Cat in the Hat was so popular after its publication that the Cat became the logo for all subsequent Dr Seuss publication. I have a strong suspicion that my love of striped clothings came partly from the Cat's red and white striped Hat. Revolveclothing.

Gloved Up

Each pair of gloves at GlovedUp is handmade by Agent Anonym using a wide range of materials. The ultimate fashion statement in the form of fingerless gloves. It's not about keeping warm and is completely for beauty and fashion's sake, just the way I like it! Stylish and sometimes outrageous, with the right dose of fashion creativity.

We Love Colors

I was delighted to find We Love Colors selling all kinds of colored tights and gloves. Each striped ones comes in 30+ different colors! This very strawberry-shortcake pair is so cute!

Also my craze now to get a pair of black and white striped arm warmers and maybe wear one with a black dress:

This will look cool as well if worn on one side:

I'm going to get some of these from We Love Colors for my own use; if any one is interested, just email me with your particulars at infor@purpleanemone.com quickly! Or just drop me a comment with your email address.

Ringers Tights and Knee-Highs

Maybe it started from my fascination with Strawberry Shortcake, maybe it is my inner witch screaming out to be heard, but I just love ringers, be it in the form of tights, footless leggings or knee-high hosiery. Sockshop.

Blythe Handmade Shoes

These handmade sailor Blythe shoes are so cute that I wish they were available in human size. Looks great with a white dress! I love dressing up my Blythe doll (the rest of them are still in boxes) with boots and dresses. From Wing.

Kate Moss for Topshop Green Dress

While surfing the web for green dresses, I found this Kate Moss for Topshop version at Barneys. While I like pleats generally, the combination of asymmetrical neckline and busy pleats all over almost put me off green dresses for good.

Elusive Green Dress

I have always been searching for the ideal green dress that will be great for business. Thought these 2 Raoul pieces were quite stylish and just right for work. Emerald green may age some people slightly but looks great on fair skin. I fell in love with the color after trying on a BCBG gown in this shade 2 or 3 years ago (pity the cutting did not suit me).

After viewing the ARTSingapore exhibition at Suntec yesterday, we went to Raoul to check out the dresses. Did not find the green ones yesterday but bought a red dress with a slight bubble hemline instead. Also loved the black velvet skirt on display in the window but which will only arrive in the boutique in the middle of Oct 2007. Raoul.

My New Craze: Socks

I have been wearing my red Tod's with different hosiery: lacy socks, striped socks, tights. I think this pair of van Gogh ones will be pretty fun to wear with them as well. Available at GreatSockz. I will be scouting around for more socks this weekend. :D

Velvet Jacket

I was so sick over the weekend that nothing was done. Also missed my Dad's birthday dinner on Saturday :(

So upset that I tore my favourite Zara velvet jacket; it tore at the centre seam at the back and velvet is sort of hard to sew back together again. This favourite black jacket came with short, slightly puffed sleeves with a single button in front. I removed the button and used a cute lipstick pin which I got for $1 at a charity sale as the fastener instead. I like to dress up a pair of white pants with this black velvet jacket. I have also layered it with a very worn-out (by now grungy) black long sleeve FCUK tee for a contrast in textures. Found a picture of an urbanoutfitters version above to illustrate but think the Zara one still looked better!