Happy New Year!

Here's a toast to my family, friends, readers and valued clients; may the New Year ring in abundant health, joy and peace into your lives. Focus your energy, time and money on things and people that matters. Life is already full of challenges; so do not take on more unnecessarily:-) On this note, I will like to say thank you so much for following my blog. Your support has spurred me on to continue blogging even when time does not permit or when I ran out of things to share. It has been a tremendous experience for me and I enjoyed it so much that I have begun another new blog in case some of you are unaware. My style inspirations will now be shared via my new blog at http://www.image-harmony.com/styleblog while this blog (melissastyleguide.blogspot.com) will have a more personal touch. I hope to have your continuous support throughout the new year and I wish everyone an awesome 2010! Cheers!

Puppy Love

Are you a dog or a cat person? Obviously, I am the former although I love most pets in general. Interestingly, a study using the Myers-Briggs PersonalityType Inventory found that individuals who are the Intuitive and Feeling types have an affinity for animals. Perhaps there are also different traits between a dog and a cat lover. My beloved pooches, Max and Jag are exactly what makes dogs a man's best friend; loyal and loving. Max is a ruby colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he is 9 years old! Jag, a sheltie is 13 but still going strong. Like humans going for online dating, I did an online quiz to find out which dog breed is best suited for my needs, personality and lifestyle. The result was a perfect match! It was PUPPY LOVE at first sight! So, I will encourage you to try one of those quizzes before you run out to get a dog for the new year (ah, it's human nature to want new things to kick start a brand new year!). . Do your research, check out adoption schemes, talk to other responsible dog owners and involve family in the decision-making. Owning a dog or a pet is huge responsibility. The joy and love they bring are unimaginable!:-)

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies."

-- Gene Hill

Christmas is about turkey, presents...and FAMILY!

Firstly, here's wishing all my readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, peace and joy onto you and your loved ones! Secondly, I wish to share an amazing story that happened on the day before Christmas eve. Well, we decided to get Jeff, my nephew an IPOD Touch when we heard that it was on his Christmas wish list. So my husband,TL was tasked to get the present since I am technically challenged besides having a thousand and one chores to do prior to Christmas dinner!! When he eventually had time to go to the store, it was the day before the Christmas eve. As he was feeling a bit hungry, he decided to have his dinner first. While waiting for his order, his phone rang and the caller was from a store which he had purchased something from months ago. It turned out that TL had won a lucky draw prize and it was an...you guessed it, IPOD Touch!!! If he had neglected his growling stomach and went to get the IPOD first...I will not have a wonderful Christmas story to share!:-) Happy Holidays!

Amanda 'forcing' her brother, Jeff to wear the feathered headband for our flapper inspired Xmas theme!

                                             He obviously gave in!

Someone said "The gifts are not under the tree, but in the heart". Aww...

Jingle Bells Rock!

It certainly was a festive and fun mood at the Asia Professional Speakers' Christmas dinner party last night. Gone were the protocols, savvy speak and upright postures; everyone was in their best element in dressing and humour. There was great entertainment too with stand-up jokes, christmas songs sing-along, demonstration on memory and even a hypnothism act! Nishant Kasibhatla, world record holder and grand master of memory showed us how he could memorized the sequence of 21 playing cards in less than a minute. Incredible feat! The highlight of the evening was when Santa dropped in unexpectedly and brought us presents, of course!

Part Four: Inspiring Moms

This is our final interview segment with moms who inspire. Last but not least, is Nancy Lim who resigned from her training post and got promoted to "Stay At Home Mom"! Always the elegant dresser with her 'humble' collection of Chanel bags, Nancy is doting mom to 16 month-old Meredith. Being a first time mom has its challenges no doubt, but you need to look after yourself first and feel good so that you can channel your positive energy to your kid(s). Look good for your children's sakes, said Nancy.

Describe your sense of style: Practical (enough for the climate in Singapore) and elegant for work. Off work I’m totally casual. Bermudas, Capri pants and shirt blouse rule my style.

Beauty sacrifices you have to make after childbirth: Less makeup as I do not wish for Meredith to ‘pollute’ her porcelain face whenever I hug or kiss her.Reduced accessories, especially chunky ones, as babies have a tendency to yank them apart. Re-touching my grown hair roots. Going to the hair dressers for hours is something of the past. Manicured coloured nails are not something I can wear on a frequent basis.

How important it is for you to make time to pamper yourself? I want to feel refreshed with Meredith and look good for her sake as much as possible. So it is nothing short of necessary to pamper myself first. For the barest minimum, I will indulge myself with a bi-weekly body massage. Catching up on sleep as and when possible in the day. A soak in my bath tub once a while allows me some needed quiet moments.

How do you maintain your appearance despite your busy schedule? Getting hubby to watch over daughter whilst I try to get a quick fix of facial and scrub. Anti-aging skincare is indispensable. After all it does not take much time to apply. That said, I am guilty of lapping on the product creams without taking time to massage my face. I have learnt to wear natural makeup in a jiffy.

Share a beauty tip: Twirl my hair into a chignon at home so that when the hair is let down there will be make shift curls!

Inspiring message for moms: Look good for your children’s sake. They should feel proud of how their parents, especially their mothers look. There is no need to dig deep into our pockets for making ourselves look pretty. Just need to be savvy and keep ourselves in the know of where to get stuffs or services at affordable prices.

I would love for my daughter to be proud of how her mummy looks. She may not know a thing about image pride now but I am sure when she is older she will pay attention to such details when looking at pictures of us taken together.

Part Three: Inspiring Moms

Ivy Lee, 33, just knows how to liven up her day with sporty chic clothes and bright colours. And daughter, Man Ting who is 3 years old is following mommy's foot steps in the fashion department! Ivy has a bright and cheerful personality and she certainly knows how to project her beauty inside-out.

Describe your sense of style: Casual, colourful, ad hoc

Beauty sacrifices after childbirth: None so far...haha

How important it is for you to make time to pamper yourself? Quite important to upkeep my looks

How do you maintain your appearance despite your busy schedule? I use mask regularly at home every week and go to the spa once in a while.

Share a beauty tip: Plenty of rest and water.

Inspiring messages for moms: We're all beautiful inside, we need to love ourselves too.

Part Two: Inspiring Moms

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, working mom, single mom or mom-to-be, you need to make a conscious effort to maintain your appearance and health. These are the wise words from Charlotte Lim, our "Rock Chic" mom who is always bursting with energy and passion in what she says and does! Charlotte is in her 50s (can you believe it??) and has 2 adult children, Nigel, 26 and Kimberly, 22. She owns a fashion retail business called "Forget-Me-Not"(Anchor Point) which carries reasonably priced trendy items.

Describe your sense of style: Casual streetwear inspired style

Beauty sacrifices after childbirth: Manicures and Pedicures

How important it is for you to make time to pamper yourself? Pampering myself, even if its just enjoying a coffee and magazines/papers, or relaxing by the pool, is important as it refreshes and recharges me to face the day in a more positive way.

How do you maintain your appearance despite your busy schedule? Keeping an eye on a healthy diet of more water, fruits/vegetables and less sugar and salt; as well as setting aside ample time for regular outdoor/indoor exercises, makes me feel 'good' despite busy work and domestic schedule.

Share a beauty tip: Keeping a personal style that's no-fuss as well as flattering, helps to boost my confidence levels;

Inspiring message to moms: Firstly, its important to watch your daily diet intake and exercise regularly. And then, you have to WANT to make a conscious effort to maintain that presentable and healthy appearance. You have to be comfortable in your own skin.. work on finding your own style and investing in a wardrobe of versatile pieces. Looking good does not mean having to spend a bomb on the latest trends!

Part One: Inspiring Moms

Motherhood can be the most challenging role yet it can be taken for granted most of the time. There are many moms out there who put everybody and everything else first before them and in doing so, neglect their own image, aspirations and identity. While these important values will be less priority when you become a mom, no doubt, I hope that all moms will try to squeeze in a bit of "ME time" into their schedules. If you care about yourself (please do not interpret this as being selfish!),you will be able to make hay while the sun shines as quoted by Dora Yip! I have the privilege of interviewing four fabulous mommies and I hope their stories will inspire YOU to start doing something for yourself TODAY!

                         Dora, 33, a Corporate Communications Manager with son, Jordan Ross Turner, 1

• Describe your sense of style: Eclectic, practical, comfortable

• Beauty sacrifices after childbirth: My regular facials have fallen by the wayside, as have regular manis and pedis. I even find that sometimes I just forget to put a mask on my face at nights! My beauty regime has now been completely pared down.

• How important it is for you to make time to pamper yourself? Fairly important. I was never really into the traditional notion of "pampering myself" in my pre-Jordan days, although I did enjoy my regular facials and pedicures. Since having Jordan, I consider pampering myself not so much to be about the way I look, but more about a sense of holistic wellness. It's just as important for me to find time to read quietly, as it is for me to have a luxurious full-body massage!

• How do you maintain your appearance despite your busy schedule? Well I'm not sure if I'm the best role-model in that respect! I try to squeeze in little pockets of "me time" whenever I can throughout the day. For example, if Jordan takes a nice, longish nap, I'll paint my toenails (pretty toenails never fail to cheer me up) and read my book while my toenails are drying! It's all about making hay while the sun shines!

• Share a beauty tip: Dress to please yourself. Don't feel the need to subscribe to every fashion trend that comes along - skinny jeans may not be for everyone!

• Inspiring message to moms: Take your time to regain your sense of self. Childbirth presents a seismic shift not only for your body, but also for your identity and lifestyle. Don't feel pressurised by the constant messages from the media about Hollywood stars and their pregancy weight-loss. They have an entourage of professionals to help them achieve their goals! For regular moms like us, nothing works better than a sensible diet, regular exercise, and lots of kisses and hugs from your kiddoes. And remember, even if our bodies look a bit different from before we had kids, we are all still yummy mummies in our children's eyes!

The Art of Speaking

I was invited by my image consultant friend, Li Kin to an Asia Professional Speakers Meeting recently. Interestingly, I noted that it was a male-dominated event... and I thought that women talk more! Two distinguished speakers, David Lim, acclaimed Mt Everest team leader and c.j.Ng, top sales advisor shared their nuggets of wisdom on how to make it big in speaking. One thing that struck me was how both speakers were so focused, articulate and clear about their life's vision and goals. David Lim has permanent disabilities in both legs as a result of a rare nerve disorder but made a dramatic comeback to climbing the world's great mountains. I believe his success in overcoming the obstacles are partly due to him having a plan for his life and the ability to keep his eyes on his goal which was to climb the highest peak. Whether you are aspiring to be the next Bill Gates or Singapore Idol or a fabulous mom, you need to have a plan for your life, your future, your career, your family etc... To quote the famous Sun Tzu, an ancient heroic general "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!" As an image consultant, I will always ask my clients what are their goals/ outcomes they want to achieve from the consultation. It is important for me to know their vision, aspirations and goals so that I can help to make them shine from the inside to the outside in harmony with their vision and aspirations. So, ask yourself today "Do you have a PLAN?"

                                                                            Melissa with David Lim

Melissa with  c.j. Ng (left) and Joe Augustin (right), one of Singapore's best radio presenter 

A.L.L For Love

"Take Me Home" was written on the handkerchief which was tied around this handsome mutt, one of the several V.I.Ps (Very Important Pooches) who came and strut their stuff at the A.L.L (Animal Lovers League) fund-raising dinner on Saturday, 21 November Forrest @ Orchidville. The event was organised in hope of raising $80,000 that will pay for regular medical expenses, maintenance and upkeep of the facility, as well as A.L.L’s rehoming and sterilisation programme. A.L.L operates a no-kill sanctuary for some 300 dogs and 500 cats, and the numbers of abandoned and abused dogs are increasing by the day. For more information on A.L.L, please go to http://www.animalloversleague.com.

Do your part in saving these important lives!

                                                                                          

                              Irene Low from Cherries Vintage (left) and Melissa                   

Paradise in Hong Kong

As you all know, Hong Kong is a great holiday destination for shopping and feasting. And I certainly did just that on a recent trip there. The roads are always bustling with hawker fare, stalls and PEOPLE way till past midnight. Upon reaching our hotel about 3pm after a long long wait at the airport for our coach, we wasted no time except for a quick dash to the toilet, raiding the shops at Fa Yuen Market (which is quite similar to Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur), Langham. Pedder Building and the last stop was Harbour City. By the time we settled down for dinner, it was late and we were famished, tired and thirsty! Dinner was at Super Star Seafood Restaurant at Harbour City (www.superstargroup.com.hk); we each had three cold crabs which were absolutely mouth-watering, cheap and SO GOOOOD!

The next day we had a dim sum breakfast at The Sweet Dynasty in Tsimshatsui. The food was passable but ambience was nice and cosy. I love the way it was decorated. With our batteries recharged after a good night's rest and a sumptuous breakfast, it was time to hit the malls again. We went to check out the branded outlets at Horizon Plaza. This industrial looking warehouse space tucked away in AP Lei Chau carries past season's unsold clothing and accessories from the JOYCE boutique, including other designer brands like Dolce & Gabana, Giorgio Armani, Max Mara etc...at more than 40% off. Stock is replenished daily. The only downside is there is only one small cafe which sells snacks and drinks! So make sure you have a hearty breakfast and bring your own water! I got a chunky bracelet and a super cute necklace with a bee pendant from MARNI. Clothing sizes are limited though. Citygate is also another great mall to visit. It is huge and you can find past season's collection of brands like GUESS, Timberland, Vivienne Tam, Espirit, DVF just to name a few. I bought a cute Kate Spade tote with spring flowers and two anteprima rings at 50 percent off!

                                          Shopped till we drop...!!!                                      H & M

The BEST roast goose I have tasted must surely be at Sham Tseng Yue Kee (9 Sham Hong Road). The restaurant was featured in The Sunday Times recently. The goose meat was so crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. If you do go to Yue Kee, then you must not miss the famous mango and durian pancake dessert at Lucky Dessert (also featured in The Sunday Times) which is just a few minutes walk from Yue Kee restaurant.

















 Well, if you haven't been to Hong Kong, you SHOULD! The food is great, shopping is heavenly and the current exchange rate is excellent. Most importantly, go with GREAT company like I did!

Hong Kong Street Fashion

There is no denying that Hong Kong women's fashion is as interesting and varied as its shopping offerings. They are bold in expressing their individual style, fashion forward looking and enjoy dressing up which I find rather refreshing. Perhaps if the weather here is a bit kinder, our Singaporean ladies may amp up their style to the next level. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps! Sometimes a fedora or just a pop of colour in your footwear can make you look more confident than the rest. In the first place, you have to have some confidence to pull that off. Whether you look good in it or not, that is a separate issue which I will find time to expound in my future posts! I wished I had taken more photos to share with you but certainly, there will be more pictures next time as Hong Kong will be my regular shopping destination in the near future!

                            Melissa and Priscilla, a Hong Kong friend                               


Everyone wears boots in autumn!

Diva Kitty

You do not have to be an animal lover to fall instantly in love with this cute flat faced and no mouth kitten.  At 35, Hello Kitty still looks as cute and youthful as ever and adored by fans from little toddlers to octogenarians! I, too, could not resist holding her in my arms when i was shopping at the ANTEPRIMA boutique in Hong Kong recently.HELLO KITTY and ANTEPRIMA worked together to launch a series of Kitty collections which are now HOT!


Paris Hilton has one and so do I...or so I wished!

The "Swarovski Raso Kitty" is one of only 80 limited edition pieces worldwide. Its body is decorated with beautiful Swarovski pink crystals. Measuring W42 x H70 x D30cm and costing SGD$4,999, the bag is already sold out in Singapore! ANTEPRIMA's famed wirebags are made and hand-knitted by skilled craftsmen using exclusive wire code from Italy. Blending techie and fashion, the quirky designs extravert its theme which is "FUN & JOY". Those who are more creative and feminine in style will find the bags most appealing. The bags generally go better with the romantic type of clothing like sundresses, flare skirts, floral prints or sporty looks like jeans and a tee. For work, you can choose the minimal designs in darker shades as the glittery effect of the wires will not be too loud. Rather than a plain canvas tote, invest in a bright coloured ANTEPRIMA classic tote this Christmas to add a little spark in your style!