Excuse Me, Are You A Shopaholic?

I sure am! The dictionary definition is: Someone who shops compulsively or frequently. Well, for the record, I shop frequently but I don't buy on impulse. Shopping is my passion; it is also my job! Being a stylist, I need to keep pulse of the latest designs and trends so as to save my clients the embarrassment of looking like history! And I always check out the local stores for good value for money items and sniff out what's new and unique in the market so that when a client needs something, I know where to find them instantly. Before I go on overseas trip, I will google for the best shopping places. So yes, I am a shopaholic but for good reasons!

Outside Betsey Johnson boutique, Washington DC (top)

At a vintage shop in Brooklyn, New York (bottom)

Shopping is great therapy for some but for others, it can be more painful than a trip to the dentist! From my consultation experience, women do want to shop but they are either overwhelmed by too many choices and not knowing what looks good on them OR they have tried everything but nothing fits. Hence, the frustration and disappointment set in and they just do not enjoy shopping thereafter. Does that sound familiar to you?

If you are easily overwhelmed by stuff, then keep your focus by planning a shopping list. Re-organise your closet by colour, style and occasion (e.g. work, party, weekends) so that you can see what you have, what works together and what's missing. Put down the missing items onto your shopping list. This way you will be more focused on what you NEED and not what you want. Do not be tempted even by those great sale items. If you must, bring along a trusted friend or family member for support!

Knowing what fits your body shape and body proportions is important so that you will select clothes that suit you best, that flatter you and generate compliments. Are you well-endowed or have small hips? Is your body line straight or curvy? Do you have a longer torso or longer legs? All these and more play an important role in determining the best fit, shape and style for your body. A certified image consultant will be able to diagnose your body shape and prescribe the best clothing for you.

http://www.image-harmony.com

Festival of Lights

Shake your booty time!

As Hindus worldwide are gearing up for this colourful and important festival called Deepavali, our Association of Image Consultants decided to join in the excitement by organising a bollywood theme event named "Jai Ho", which means victory in Hindi. The event was a blast! It was held at an Indian restaurant at Clarke Quay (somehow I have forgotten the name!). The buffet spread was great, the private room had a cosy ambience and the entertainment was fantastic. We had performances by belly dancers and we learnt about Indian dining etiquette and how to wear a sari and not trip in it! Do you know there are several sari styles such as the air hostess style, Gujerati style, ulta palla etc... Most common style is the ulta palla.

When it comes to Indian dining etiquette, it is considered rude to eat with your left hand. You should always use your right hand even if you are left-handed. However, it is perfectly fine if you prefer to eat using a fork and a spoon. It is good etiquette to wash your hands before eating. Use a serving spoon which is provided to transfer food to your plate. Never use your fingers or own spoon to touch the communal dish.

(L-R) Gloria, Melissa and Genny

Sari styles (L-R) Gujerati, Palla & Air Hostess styles

Your Signature Style

Walk down Orchard Road and you will see lots of black, lots of leggings and lots of gladiator booties! There is fashion on the streets indeed but where is the INDIVIDUAL STYLE? The style which I am referring to is YOU - who you are, your talents, your personality, your aspirations, your mannerism, your hobbies etc... It is important to know your personal style so that you can express yourself through your clothes. Style is about self-expression, not attempting to be stylish and fall into the fashion trap. Your clothes should be a natural extension of you. Hence, there needs to be a harmony between your clothes and the natural line, scale and colour of your body. Line refers to your silhouette and outer line of your outfit. Scale or size should be in proportion with the size of your body to produce visually pleasing effects. As for colour, it should always complement your skin tone, hair and eye colour.

Meredith, my adorable niece has a penchant for hats, as you can see! Hats signify her youth, artistry and to a certain extent a sense of quirkiness. Her choice of hats also relates well to her curved face shape, size and warm skin tone. So discover today what is your signature look, one that you can call your own and is a natural extension of YOU!

Tweed-le dee and Tweed-le dum

Fall fashion is here and this is the best time for you to invest in a tweed jacket, if you have yet to own a piece. Some may frown upon trends and fads, but I think it is important to keep yourself updated not just in your skills but also your appearance! The key is knowing what suits your body, personality and style and not follow fashion blindly. So I am going to share some style tips on how to make tweed work for your body and ..... our weather! Whilst not many of us can afford the gorgeous Chanel boucle (pronounced "boo-clay) jacket, there are many versions of the iconic jacket at a fraction of the high couture price. Mango, Zara, Warehouse - these are some of the shops where you can get high street fashion at low prices. Vintage shops like Granny's Day-Out and Deja Vu Vintage are also great places to hunt for something classic and 80's and one of a kind piece. So go check them out.

Look for tweed jackets in lightweight wool fabric which will be nice for cooler days and an air-conditioned environment. For those who are petite (1.57m and below), avoid heavy texture style as it will overpower you due to the extreme contrast in size and weight. And for the well-endowed, too much texture will only add more bulk at the wrong places. Fabric texture also relates directly to facial skin texture. For example, the rough-textured tweed will emphasise a rough skin or any imperfections on the face. A better choice will be a smoother texture.

Tweed jackets are classy, simple, elegant and versatile. You don't need a lot of accessories as the jacket itself already has a lot of details like edges trimmed in braid, ribbon, satin or even fur, ornate buttons and pockets. Avoid wearing tweed from top to bottom as you make look matronly or boring. Contrast in textures is more interesting and appealing. For example, pair your tweed jacket (rough/dull) with a silk (smooth/shiny) pleated skirt and classic ballerina flats for that romantic look. When worn with jeans, the look is young and hip. For a quirky image, pair tweed with cargos or tailored shorts and opened-toe booties. To take you from work to play, just throw on a sexy silky camisole underneath the jacket or pair it with velvet pants.

WIth all the tips given above, I hope you will be inspired to get a tweed jacket and experiment with different ways of wearing it.

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” (Coco Chanel quote)

What's Office-Appropriate?

It seems that some women can't differentiate their work clothes from their party or weekend clothes. Big dangly earrings, sexy tops, leggings, low-cuts, high slits, over 4 inch stilettos...all these are no-nos for a corporate environment. Unless you are in the entertainment or creative field, it is wiser to be more modern classic in your dressing when it comes to work wear. Invest in smart basic pieces like cotton tees, knitted tops, tailored shirts, well-cut pants and skirts in pin-stripes or solid neutral colours. For a start, build up a business wardrobe consisting 2 well-tailored suits (either skirt or pant suit depending on your preference), 2 pairs of trousers or skirts, 3 to 5 blouses and knitted tops, 1 cardigan or twin-set and 1 or 2 work dresses. You can add on 2 skirts and pants in prints and colours that will work well with your suit jackets. Keep the sexy look for after 6 as you would not want your boss to be impressed by your cleavage rather than your ideas!

Chipped Nails are NOT Cool and Everybody Notices!

Recently I have been noticing a new pedicure "fad" or should I say major nail faux pas! Women, both young and mature with only one or two toe nails (usually the big toes) still left with the chipped polish. They walk around in their open-toe sandals, heels or flip-flops on busy Orchard Road; nonchalant about their lack of basic grooming. My nail therapist shared that some women would leave their nail polish on for more than 6 months and when the colour chipped, they would just paint a new colour over the old one. Or they would wait till all the colour has chipped before they decide to do something about it! As a result, their underlying nails got damaged. Ladies, your nails are one of the first thing that people will notice! A pair of well manicured hands or pedicured feet will boost your image and make you look polished and attractive. On the contrary, chipped nails project a "I don't care" or "I am just plain lazy" persona. If you really don't have the luxury of time, there are simple quick ways to ensure good looking nails. Keep your nails short and paint them with a clear varnish or light nail colour for longer wear and easy maintenance. Alternatively, you can buy those nail polish which peels off easily without having to use nail remover, thus saving time. And make sure your nails are clean at all times. If you are unsure about how to groom your nails, go to your nearest nail salon and ask if they conduct sessions on nail care or just google!

Dress Code Singapore Style

Hello! What a lovely Sunday morning until I surfed the news and saw a major fashion crime -pot belly and cellulite all exposed at a Japanese restaurant (ref: SoShiok.Com dated Sat, 19 Sept 09). Diners were irked and losing appetite over the sight of this skimpily dressed woman. Now ladies, whatever fashion dictates, we must know our bodies well enough to know what style will boost and what style will destroy our image. Remember, your clothes speak volumes about you! So what is the message that you want to send out to others?