I seem to unintentionally come up with resolutions every time i’m away on holiday.
Which makes more sense to me because it’s when i have time to ponder over what changes in my life i want to bring, and how the holiday itself signifies the transition from the old me to the NEW me.
I always feel like a new me after a holiday!
I feel a shift in my desires and what i should be focusing on (until my next holiday).
Last year’s Europe summer holiday’s resolutions were to edge myself out of going into the office everyday cos it was killing my happiness. And that i really wanted to concentrate more on making money from doing the things i love doing. Thankfully… it worked out. I was incredibly busy till end of 2012 with 6-day weeks but ultimately, really loving the work i was doing.
This year… i’m thinking i must be more RESPONSIBLE with my money!
I have a terrible habit with money.
I earn it, i spend it, i earn it, i spend it.
The upside to this buying habit, is that i booked an apartment in 2011… so that means i have no choice but to save so i can furnish it and pay the mortgage (Clem will share that part with me) when it’s ready this year. If i didn’t have that apartment to think about, i’d probably use the money and traipse to Machu Pichu (cos i REALLY want to go there), or to South Africa and see some giraffes (cos i LOVE GIRAFFES SO MUCH).
But i guess… it’s time to be a responsible adult and start building a proper home so we don’t have to move anymore (i hate moving) and have all my belongings in one place (a third of my wardrobe has been at my parents’ for 3 years :p).
Other than my 1) home project, i would like to:
2) start a business which depends solely on me.
i know i have my blog running, and i still consult for Universal McCann, but i have time (for now) and i’d like to use it to TRY to start something that doesn’t depend on any other company and just… ME. Uh… wish me luck please! It’s so hard to get something off the ground, and i tend to overthink details to the point i feel TIRED when i get to the operational parts, so i figured… stop overanalyzing and just DO IT.
3) take up a musical instrument.
I’ve been fiddling with this idea for two years, and just NEVER did it. Okay maybe cos i didn’t have time too, but i’d like to take SOMETHING up. I thought of the clarinet (Clem thinks it looks dumb) but i like its sound. Or the guitar. OR. The ELECTRIC GUITAR. Then i can feed my own rock star fantasies in the privacy of my make believe stage at home.
4) go back to learning French.
After 6 months at the Alliance Francaise, awkward class times during peak traffic hours and too much work to fit it around; i haven’t learned French for a very. long. time. But as Clem and i get more serious, i know for a fact that i MUST learn French else i’d never be able to communicate with his family properly! So… i’ve asked Heloise to give me private lessons once a week this year (not too ambitious and i should be able to handle it).
OK that’s it. I really hope Numbers 1, 2 and 4 all turn out well.
It’d be a miracle if i managed to do all 4 this year.
Levi’s Malaysia held a series of intimate events this week, and i went for the last one yesterday at Hit & Mrs (a new restaurant in Bangsar that i wanted to check out too).
I am quite sure that every single person i know owns at least one pair of Levi’s. I think my first pair were some hand-me-downs which i cut into shorts 😀 Levi’s 501® jeans is such an iconic product, that Time Magazine named it the ‘Fashion Item of the 20th Century’!
The 501® jeans first came to birth in 1873 when Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented their copper riveted waist overalls that were made primarily for miners and cowboys. The copper rivets in particular were implemented into the jeans due to the need for a stronger hold where it strained most – the pockets. Even the stitch design that’s on the back pocket (called the Arcuate) still remains since its first pair, making it one of the oldest clothing trademarks today.
Since it was patented in 1873, the 501® jeans have undergone minor changes – in 1886, the Two Horse leather design was added; in 1922, belt loops were introduced cos men started wearing belts; and in 1936, the Red Tab was added to the right back pocket to deter imitators.
This Spring/Summer marks the 140th anniversary of the Levi’s 501® jeans, and to celebrate it, the brand has released a non-denim 501® collection for the first time in history.
The new collection comes in the shades of true chino, chalk blue, and mineral red; while promising more comfort around the waist, a tighter silhouette and slightly larger pockets for smartphones. There is also stronger stitching and reinforced belt loops, inseams, buttonholes and cuffs.
To showcase the new collection further, veteran stylist Cris Yong exhibited four looks he created, using only Levi’s clothing of course. His style ensembles were inspired by different generations of fashion, and how THE man at that time would best be dressed >
Sacoor Brothers opened their first boutique in Malaysia a couple of months ago, adding but one more to their repertoire of over 60 boutiques across the globe (Portugal, Spain, UK, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait). Focused on exquisite European style and collections that epitomize the elegance of refinement, Sacoor Brothers also offers the comfort of personalized fit.
Their made-to-measure service (that comes complimentary) with any piece you purchase in the store is why i think it’s such a great deal – cos it’s gonna fit you perfectly and that aspect is SO important for shirts! Woe is an ill-fitted shirt on a (wo)man.
I got this refined shirt that comes with the most fabulous detachable bow, so i can create different looks sans bow.
I wore it to the Ritz-Carlton for dinner.
Paired the shirt with patterned silk harem pants, mesh + cork high heels, and clutch made for me by Chelle <3
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When Sacoor Brothers threw their launch party in December, I wore a white silk blouse with black piping and black pants from their collection. Recently, i’ve been styling the shirt in other ways – which means with shorts, so i get a more casual yet dressy look out of it.
Here i wore a mesh pullover over the Sacoor Brothers silk shirt, with black shorts, studded flats, and a leather fuchsia clutch.
The ribbons are detachable too!
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For another night out, i wore a vintage scarf over the shirt tucked into pleather shorts, and wrapped it together with a gold metal belt. Finished the look with a cork + leather clutch, and studded velvet flats.
If you noticed, i removed the ribbons from the sleeves this time. Felt that i already had a lot going on my front.
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Yesterday, Clem and i dropped by their store to get him a shirt. I convinced him it’d be a great idea, cos he sometimes complains about shirts not fitting him and knowing they make-to-measure relieves us of that problem.
Double cuff? Or regular cuff? Slim fit, or regular fit?
I never knew men had so many shirt + pocket + cuff choices..!
In case you’re wondering WHO wears Sacoor Brothers, the brand has an impressive portfolio of having celebrities like William Baldwin, Chris O’Donnell, Rob Lowe, and actors from Grey’s Anatomy donning their collections!
The tinkling of the pianist in store was somewhat calming while Clem went about choosing his shirt. I was offered a coffee by the staff too (they treat you well in there!) but i declined – coffee makes me go cray cray.
Claudia from Sacoor Brothers was going to help Clem see if he needed any adjustments but surprisingly, the shirt fit him perfectly! I’m thinking it’s because the brand is from Europe and *he’s* from Europe so…. 😀
That was quick and painless! PHEW.
The shirt that Clem picked ^.^
If you’re looking for somewhere to get shirts for Chinese New Year, you are in time to get them altered before then. Plus there was a sale going on in store when we went yesterday so you might still be able to catch it if you go to Pavilion this weekend!
I was quite dubious about Clem’s present-buying skills before Christmas rolled around last month… i kept on giving him hints, afraid that he’d buy me something i didn’t want. He refused to listen to any of them, getting stressed out and saying he already had an idea what to get me, and i’d be like ‘HRMM’.
What he put a large box under the tree with two types of wrapping paper covering it (better than the Chili’s paper bag he first kept it in), i was even MORE dubious, cos i didn’t ask for anything large! HRMMMM
In the end, he got me this FANTASTIC AWESOME AMAZING lights that i saw and wanted two years ago and forgot about. So i was truly surprised, and felt BAD that i doubted his ability to know me, in fact, better than i know myself sometimes.
The “Can You Imagine Laser Stars Projector” paints the galaxy with moving clouds/milky way(?) and millions of stars that move in different speeds and directions on our ceiling!
It’s really so freaking awesome. It’s a great present cos it’s something I would have never bought myself – would have felt too guilty.
Last night i made him turn it on so we could stare at it while we fell asleep.
Him: “Do you want more clouds?” (You can adjust how fast the stars move, or how much clouds you want too!)
Me: “No… it’s fine like this…”
*he gets into bed while i stare at it longer*
Me: “Wait… i want more clouds!”
Him: “Putainnnn” *gets out of the warm bed and adjusts the machine*
I love a man who changes the thickness of my clouds, no questions asked.
Bunch of fashion outfit pix! I usually take a couple of minutes to decide what to wear for the day. The outfit below was decided upon and thrown on in approximately 15 SECONDS FLAT cos we were late for Cammy’s birthday dinner. Not bad considering i managed to accessorize too!
One Sunday afternoon
top; thrifted in Bangkok market
tropical shorts; zara
velvet flats; bangkok
sunnies; karen walker
lippie; shu uemura x karl lagerfeld in mon shu red
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aztec print top I’ve had for ages; f21
headband; from online store By Jap run by my former writer Jessica Ling 🙂
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printed pants; beautiful disaster
studded leather bag; topshop peek of white lace top; vintage. i’ll never sell it cos i wear it so much!