Funky little bag shop spotted in ION

Carmen was in ION on Orchard Road yesterday and spotted a this little gem called lapalette.

For those that are opposed to the designer handbag movement, or just prefer to have something a bit quirky or different in their wardrobes, or is looking for something a bit different as a gift for their friends, then lapalette is definitely worth a look.This Korean bag brand seems to have focused on three things: horses, the circus and ballerinas.
And why not?

Ok so firstly apologies for the weird lighting effects that are in the photos. Carmen only had her iphone with her and the store lighting seems to send iphone cameras into lockdown mode. Anyway as you can (just about) see the store is sweetly presented and there is certainly a charming feel when you walk in the store. There are bags of all shames and sizes in here – which is just so wonderful to be able to wander around and admire the clever designs and shapes! Some are designed to look like a little cottage, whereas others are the more traditional satchel/ over the shoulder bags but with a strategically placed horse on the bag just to shake things up a bit! What Carmen really liked about these bags above is they all have the letter C on them. Sweet! These would make great gifts for even little girls who love horses and big enough that they would like to have their own handbag already. Circus theme above – love this design and just so whimsical! May be hard to see, but the purple bag in the back has ballerinas in different poses. This is definitely a very “girly-girl” bag, but even for those that like to be a little more subtle can choose the bags in front with just a little horse on the front.

What do you think Are these bags your style or would you not go anywhere near them?

Here is their website for those who love them:

The store is located at B3 in ION, Orchard Road.

 

H&M Singapore: What we like right now

H&M in Singapore. Yes we know it’s been around for a little while now, but Carmen & Natasha both admit it can get so hectic in there that you just don’t really want to go in. We know this isn’t as exciting as talking about a new and upcoming local designer or a charming boutique, however we know that a lot of our readers go in especially for staples and a bit of fast fashion. And let’s face it, both of us have loads of “fast fashion” in our wardrobes, so who are we to talk? Just don’t even get us started on the change room queues in H&M…..

Carmen was walking by last week and popped into the store for a visit. Here are some of our observations:

The dress above is quite cool when you are in that grungy mood. Very cool dress and only 80sgd

Cute blouse above that looks very appropriate for Singapore weather. Would love this look paired with a white pencil skirt or even a red maxi! Interesting to note this top costs the same as the dress above, at 80sgd.

How designer does this blue pencil skirt look (above)! Love this and you could combine it with a crisp white shirt – so classy! It’s nice to see some skirts in Singapore that are actually knee length… The skirt costs 100sgd, which is a lot for H&M, but at least it has an interesting design.

Spring inspired structured peplum top above. Would look great with a pencil skirt and appropriate for the office.

Accessories! This sharks tooth necklace looked really expensive and the pendant itself is quite heavy – definite score here! Easily worn with so many outfits, and from memory not too expensive (something around 20sgd mark).

Cool clutch bag above! Love the colour and the gradient effect!

Scarves! Even tho Singapore is stifling hot, when you walk indoors you freeze due to the air-con. So we think scarves are great to throw in the handbag! The ones above were the best quality in H&M.

More scarves in H&M – such a cheap way to follow a trend such as the black and white stripe trend currently going around!

Cute feather dress above which is perfect for casual weekends and beach holidays!

Another similar casual beach/ lazy sunday dress above! The turquoise colour was stunning.

Pretty funky pencil skirt above. We must admit you would need a crazy toned body to pull this look off as the material was really thin (spandex we think) but with a conservative white blouse or shirt we think this could look quite awesome (if only the material was more structured and flattering!) And for the REALLY brave, you can pick up a studded bra-let in H&M. We all know there are certain people in Singapore that would happily go walking down the street in this and a mini-skirt, but we are not one of them. The only saving grace would be if you combined this with a (very) high waisted white maxi skirt, then this could look absolutely amazing. Otherwise, stay clear!

C&N

What’s in Carmen and Natasha’s bag

Natasha’s bag:

Chanel Medallion Tote – neutral colors are always the most versatile and the classic shape is timeless!

Yves Saint Laurent business card holder – Fuchsia is one of Natasha’s favorite colors and let’s face it, it’s a lot more eye catching than a plain black one. It’s also big enough to put all the essential cards (credit card, apartment access card, ID card, etc.) and small enough to fit into a clutch bag.

Salvatore Ferragamo wallet – a gift from hubby Natasha has a bad habit of shoving things in her wallet so the zip keeps it all in!

iPhone – need we say more?

Office Blackberry – As much as Natasha hates to admit it, this addictive device is glued on her, together with the iPhone. Darn you crack berry!

O&M Frizz Logic serum – Love love love! Love the smell, the texture and most of all, love the fact it actually helps gets rid of Natasha’s frizzy hair! This also features in Carmen’s bag below!

Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries bag – fits a lot of knick knacks and a special gift from the store keeper from the Ferragamo Museo shop in Florence.

NARS lipstick – Natasha is a big fan of NARS. The colors seem to work with her warm skin tone. Her favorite shades are Heat Wave and Funny Face. The day Funny Face is discontinued will be a very very sad day for Natasha.

Chanel pressed powder – Natasha is not really fussed about the brand, but Chanel works quite well on her combination skin.

Sephora nail filer – Being the notorious bag rummager that she is, chipped nails are unfortunately a normal and constant thing in her life, just like her frizzy hair. This has proven to be a life saver, especially on those important meetings days at the office. And let’s face it, there’s nothing more distracting than a chipped nail and it gets caught on your clothes!

Maybelline Masterliner – the only kohl eyeliner that works well! Natasha has tried practically all the best brands out there, but the one product that’s worked well? Maybelline. A steal at SGD11.90.

Crabtree & Evelyn travel size body lotion – Singapore’s extreme temperature (18 degrees in malls and offices and 35 degrees outside) causes the skin to dry out easily.

Clean&Clear oil control film – The oil on Natasha’s face by the end of the day is enough to fry banana fritters. Okay, maybe not, but close. This great invention is fantastic!

Wet tissues – There’s nothing worse than clammy hands due to Singapore’s crazy humidity. Wet tissue always helps get rid of it, especially important if you take public transportation.

Carmen’s bag:

Clockwise from left:

Hermes garden party bag and wallet – both were presents and are very special!

iPhone – can’t live without this!

Pack of tissues – from reserving tables to cleaning up any disasters (makeup, spilled drinks etc!), this is a definite essential in Carmen’s bag!

O&M Frizzy Logic serum – another essential and is carried around everywhere. This little bottle of magic helps to deal with frizzy hair whilst on the go… and it smells so good! You can purchase it here

Shanghai Tang business card holder – love the contrast between the blue and orange star, this is also carried everywhere and was purchased on the last trip to Hong Kong.

MAC prep + prime concealer – this miracle stick helps to instantly hide any dark circles and although Carmen’s skin is usually too sensitive to deal with MAC products, this one seems to be a winner.

Shizens lip painter + gloss set – another miracle stick where the white cream instantly creates rosy lips (you can see the colour of your lips actually change!) and the gloss on the other end of the stick creates a finished look. The result is no lipstick smudges on wine glasses or napkins (a personal pet peeve) and it lasts all day! You can purchase it here

Shizens mascara stick – this mascara is personally the best ever tried, and everyone Carmen has recommended this too has agreed! It creates really long lashes without any clumping or hardening – love this! Get rid of your false lashes girls! You can purchase it here

Badger anti bug balm tin – with Dengue fever on the rise in Singapore, Carmen is taking no chances! Mosquitoes are so fierce in SIngapore, and if you are unlucky enough like Carmen to be considered attractive Mozzie bait (they say it’s something in your blood?!) then it is a real pain!! This balm is so handy to throw in the bag and it smells great too (not like those stinky ones you buy at the pharmacy!)- it also safe for kids! You can purchase it here

Red flower face mist (Rose Camelia Plum) – Carmen is a big fan of face mists, and believes they are an absolute must in Singapore! If she’s feeling very prepared, she will put the mist in the fridge and then just before heading out will throw it in the bag – especially when there is a long walk outdoors required. The cooling mist instantly freshens you up and stops you feeling sticky and sweaty! These mists are used in the Fullerton hotel and has a huge celebrity cult following in Hollywood – they can be purchased here

Badger stress soother tin – Carmen loves aromatherapy, and anything that can help to soothe her daily stress is always a good thing! This balm is so handy and smells so good – so she pops a little under her nose and on the temples when times seem to be so tough! This can be purchased here

Dresses online right now…

We love online shopping. Check out our top picks for dresses below (you can click on the pictures if you want more details!)

Ministry of Retail

Ok so we admit the dress above looks a little “cutes-y” – however we would love to pair this dress up with some thick black strappy heels and edgier accessories. And it’s only SGD50 so why complain?!

It’s all about the slit right now – we’re seeing it everywhere! Loving this green colour and perfect for the Singapore climate! SGD40

This dress above is preppy but we love how the collar has been exaggerated (it definitely makes the dress more interesting!), and let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with a good black and white dress! SGD49 but only avail in S or M

Revolve clothing

This is when you want to splurge, the clothing on this site is amazing!

This gorgeous Camilla kaftan above will set you back over 600SGD, but isn’t it gorgeous?! We think this is the ultimate “beach to bar” look! Another gorgeous maxi dress above, and you just can’t get enough of maxi dresses! This one is just shy of 285SGD.What a fun flirty summer dress above! Loving the neon pink colour too – so fresh! at SGD492 it’s purely on our wish list for now…This Nanette Lepore (American designer) dress above is sure to stop traffic. We are in love! This dress is just shy of 500SGD.

Ok so usually combining rainbows and tie-dye ends in tears, but we really love this “Young fabulous and broke” dress above! It seems the colours really work and would be such a fun dress to wear on a dreary day! SGD367

Trina Turk

One of Carmen’s “go-to” brands when she wants to inject colour into her wardrobe. Check out these fun dresses below – they ship internationally!

This dress above is just so fun! USD200

Again the colours above! Doesn’t it just make you feel so happy?! A little bit pricey but the top half of the dress is actually a hand crochet bodice! USD458

Wow you have got to love the pop of pink in this dress above!

Now the question is… out of all the dresses above, which is your “must have”??

Snippets from London

Carmen was recently in London – here are some pics in her favourite shops!

SELFRIDGES

If Carmen could move permanently into Selfridges as a full time resident, she would. Favourite Department Store… EVER.

HIX restaurant inside is one of the best department store “cafe’s” Carmen has ever visited. Caviar and champagne – seriously?!! The afternoon tea with scones is highly recommended here.

Chanel in Selfridges below. Burberry was crazy busy whilst Hermes was dead quiet (perhaps because they had no more bags to sell or keep shipping them straight off to Asia?). Interesting. In any case, Carmen noticed that most London women she saw around town carry Mulberry bags or Michael Kors.

LOVE this display below. It was great to be in a city that was gay friendly and proud of it.

Beautiful sunny day in London below. This is a shot of Regent’s Street – Carmen’s favourite street to walk around with great architecture (and a shopanista’s dream).ANTHROPOLOGIE

Another huge favourite of Carmen’s. Yes we know this is an American brand but the store on Regent’s street in London is just so damn amazing! Total joy to walk around, and Carmen came away with three amazing ceramic bowls.

Carmen loved this dress below, but just didn’t have time to try it on! How cool is this maxi dress?! The trousers below seemed to be quite popular whilst Carmen was in the store – lots of girls were trying them on! Note: we think this look would be best suited to tall girls! Also love the simple look on the right with the metallic skirt. Carmen loves the clothes in Anthropologie as they are just so different (although they aren’t cheap either)…. however she absolutely ADORES the ceramics & homewares. They’re just so colourful and begging to be purchased.Loved the blue aztec inspired dress on the far left below. There were a LOT of folk-sy inspired clothes and accessories all over London. AND the big colour for next season? WHITE! Speaking of home-wares, Carmen just had to take a snap of this display bed below. Think it was snapped in John Lewis department store. In any case, how calming and inviting does that bed look?!  GIEVES & HAWKES, SAVILLE ROW

Ok we know you’re wondering why on earth we would include menswear in our posts, but Carmen was so taken back by the detail in their displays that we had to include it below for you! 

Jewel Rocks rocks Bali

During Natasha’s visit to Bali a month ago, she discovered a hidden precious gem of a shop called Jewel Rocks – selling gorgeous friendship bracelets and also necklaces. All around Seminyak, a lot of the shops display Jewel Rocks bracelets, but Natasha was super thrilled when she found the actual workshop, located right across Seminyak Resort. It’s easily missed, so make sure you keep a close eye on the signage! Jewel Rocks is proudly owned and designed by an Indonesian designer, who travels everywhere to find the perfect bead, string, and whatever it takes to make each bracelet unique.

Natasha is a tad bit obsessed with these bracelets, and as much as she tries to exercise self-restraint, it’s hard to resist these affordable and great quality bracelets that come in every color possible. Remember our earlier post on Italy’s Cruciani bracelet? Well consider this the Balinese version. The zodiac bracelets below are definitely getable and cost about SGD25-40 each. Perfect to be worn on its own or stack it with other bracelets. Great gift idea, too!

We ADORE the pastel bracelets below!! The colors are so soft and girly. Mix it with the gold chain bracelet – perfect for spring/summer. In fact, as we’re writing this blog post, we’re wondering ‘remind me why I didn’t buy this?!’.

We believe that presentation is crucial to any product and we love how these bracelets are being displayed. Simple, yet enough to keep your eyes feasted on them for more than five minutes.

Natasha had to peel herself off the shelves before she goes crazy, especially when she saw the bead necklace just as she was about to leave the shop! Repeating the mantra ‘look away’ seems to help most of the time. So our darling readers, try our mantra next time you’re caught in a tricky situation or if you find yourself asking ‘to buy or not to buy’.

The bracelets below are not our favorite, it’s simply a matter of style preference, but we do like the bright colors!

For more information on Jewel Rocks, check out their website http://www.jewelrocks.com!

Jewellery in Singapore: Anton Heunis, Samantha Wills & Chelsea De Luca @ Peachy

In Singapore, sometimes you feel the only options for jewellery are either Chanel/ Bvlgari etc or Diva… Not saying anything is wrong with either, but it’s great to know that there are places in Singapore that cater for the middle ground!

Check out these two jewellery designers that are currently available at Peachy (for further details on where to purchase, check out the end of this post).

Anton Heunis

Handmade in Madrid. Gosh that line sounds terribly exotic doesn’t it?! With jewellery, we think pictures say everything, so here we go:

What’s trending in jewellery right now? Feathers, coral and turquoise accents. Love this necklace above, it’s light yet chunky at the same time!

Below you can see more of the new collection from Anton Heunis. We love all of these pieces – and must admit they are perfect for just making an all white or all black outfit a lot more interesting! Also think navy blue would work well with these pieces.

These earrings below are actually made from Ivory glass (we tried to look up whether ivory glass was better/ more ethical than using ivory but couldn’t find any info on this!), as well as crystal and gun metal! But again the features make these earrings appear so light and feminine! (SIDE NOTE: found out that ivory is simply the colour of the glass, so not unethical in any way… yay!)

Samantha Wills

Think: dreamy, vintage-style, bohemian luxe jewellery. That’s Samantha Wills, a VERY popular Aussie jewellery designer. You can see why in the below pictures…

Regarding the below, I think we could just close the wooden box and take the whole lot home!

Amazing bracelets below – especially the ones with turquoise stone. This jewellery is so beautiful we can imagine treasuring it forever and handing it down one day. Carmen’s favourite is the turquoise blue bracelet in the below picture – it’s very slinky yet the massive turquoise stone in the middle packs a punch. LOVE it. Turquoise is also Carmen’s birth stone… just saying…

And why not get the matching turquoise ring to go with the bracelet?! This is divine.   And then there is bridal jewellery! What a great idea – for the bride who doesn’t want to wear typical standard jewellery on her wedding day, or is struggling to find a decent hair clip for the veil etc – well Peachy is trying to help you brides out!These earrings below are our favourite – forget wedding day, we’d wear these every day! Very art deco and so elegant – they would really look amazing in the evening!

Cocktail rings are really “in” for weddings this year – it’s all about the bride giving her bridesmaids gorgeous cocktail rings to wear on the wedding day.

As you can see Peachy has a variety of different options – we know these may be considered a little less “conventional” to traditional jewellery but it’s just so lovely to see something a bit more interesting then just bling! And if you still want the bling, trust us – check out the massive necklace on the left below – this is cha-ching bling!!!

For more details you can check out Peachy’s website below (and yes they do online shopping too!)

http://www.peachyshop.com/

Spotted in SG: Wearing accessories to the office

Who says office wear have to be boring? Accessorizing your office wear can instantly jazz up your look, so Natasha went on a mission to go around her office to do some “accessories scouting”. Even though she works in a conservative industry (read: banking), does not mean colorful accessories are a no go.

So here we go, the first accessories scouted. We’re loving this one, simplicity made edgy by the single skeleton. The gold adds a nice touch to break the otherwise monochrome stack.

Okay so admittedly Natasha is also into mixing her bracelets. The Kate Spade simple knot bracelet is so versatile, teamed with a simple silver Tiffany & Co. bracelet and a flower bracelet she found at Chatuchak. Does the dove bracelet and the four-leaf clover look familiar? That’s because you would’ve seen it in our recent blog post on Shopping in Seminyak!

We are totally liking this signature chunky ring. Wear it with a bit of attitude and minimize on other jewelry – don’t go too crazy with your necklace or earring. The best accessory to compliment the ring and nail is actually a kick ass red lipstick.

This dainty bracelet combo is on our approved list as well! The best part is that they’re all DIY! The simplicity and choice of colors adds to the whole femininity of this combo. Top it off with a pastel color nail polish, A line skirt, silk top, a pair of peep-toe shoes and an envelope clutch!

Spotlight on Shopping in Seminyak, Bali

So here’s the best part about living in Singapore – going to a tropical island such as Bali is only a short plane ride away. For those of you who have not been there, if you think Bali is a small island – you’re wrong! It’s huge and it has so many faces to it and this beautiful island has practically everything for everyone – including fashion aficionados like Carmen and Natasha. This post puts the focus on one area only – Seminyak – where all the restaurants, cute little cafes, and shops are located. Natasha was there for six days recently and started snapping away so our lovely readers (yes, YOU) know where to go if ever you happen to be in the Seminyak area. When we say Seminyak, we meant specifically Oberoi Road and Legian Road, where most of the gorgeous shops are on.

First stop: Magali Pascal, Natasha’s favorite shop. Magali is a Bali-based French designer and always uses the yummiest and awesome quality fabric of mostly lace, silk and the softest cotton (trust me, these are all essential fabric to wear in Bali’s notorious heat). Price is a bit steep for Bali standards (SGD80-300) but trust us it’s worth it!

Natasha adores these two colors in this season’s collection. the canary yellow and mint green is perfect against the island’s sunset or beach backdrop.

She also makes gorgeous jewelry – very delicate and feminine design. We must exercise our willpower and restrain ourselves whenever we go to her store! Oh, Magali Pascal has a few stores in the Seminyak area, so if you you see something you like and they don’t have your size or item – don’t fret, chances are they’ll have it in their other shop!

After Natasha regained her composure, it’s time to walk a few meters down the road to pop into Lulu Yasmine, another beautiful boutique on Oberoi Street. Admittedly, the choices are a tad bit limited, but they do have a few key pieces that are too good to put back on the rack. If we had to choose, we’ll definitely go for Magali Pascal!

We’re loving the chandelier! It would go so well in our walk-in wardrobe. Sigh – dream on Carmen and Natasha!

Literally next to Lulu Yasmine, there’s another shop called ‘from’.Trust us, in Bali’s tropical heat, going into shops to cool yourself down is one of the best things to do! From has casual slouchy t-shirts for men and women, and funky dresses, sunglasses and jewelry. Price is reasonable and the fabric does tend to stretch and lose a bit of shape after a dozen washes or so (speaking of experience).  

Natasha loves the red dress on the rack! The fabric is so soft and perfect for Bali and Singapore! And the red is so vibrant. Pair it with nude flats or cute strappy sandals, plus a fedora hat. Gorgeous!   

Seminyak Square - About 500 meters down the road from Lulu Yasmine, lies Seminyak Square – which is like a mini mall with cafes and restaurants (there’s a good salon upstairs on level 2 by the way, called jazB owned by a Singaporean lady, it’s worth checking it out if you’ve had enough of walking around!). Seminyak Square has a daily bazaar of 10-15 stalls, with each stall selling things like dresses and jewelry. Natasha found a couple of maxi dresses for SGD50 and the best part? You can show off your bargaining skills (which Carmen and Natasha are not very good at).

There’s a small road next to Seminyak Square – and beware of guys in batik shirts trying to offer you ‘vouchers’ – be polite but decline them sternly or just say ‘no, thanks’ and walk away. Anyway, back to the topic of cute stores, there’s a gorgeous new shop called House of Feathers. Do yourself a favor and go in the shop! Word of warning for those of you who are obsessed with jewelry, the shop has a lot of cute things. We repeat, a lot! Pricewise, it won’t send you broke but it’s not dirt cheap either. They’re about SGD30-SGD50 each and all so cute! Bali designers do friendship bracelets really well, and Natasha is obsessed with stacking them.

 

We love the dove bracelet! They are SGD30 each. Natasha bought the pink one and the mint green four-leaf clover bracelet.

The necklaces are equally gorgeous! the pom pom ones and neon tassels are so cute. They’re about SGD50-70 each. While writing this blog, we’re thinking – why didn’t we get those?! Oh well, there’s always next time.

The necklaces below are Natasha’s favorite! Very Proenza Schoeler and Prabal Gurung, don’t you think? Perfect for white t-shirt and jeans ensemble.

House of Feathers has really beautiful tote bags as well – perfect for the beach! The colors are so vibrant and vivid, and have a Tibetan/Burmese feel to it. They’re SGD70 each and we think it’s worth it.   

The shop sells clothes and other knick knacks, but Natasha was too fascinated with the jewelry and accessories  that she didn’t really bother looking at the dresses. Make sure you go to this shop, it’s worth the stop!     

*EVENT* – Secret Party + pop up store next Wednesday

Intrigued? So are we! SnappyFit (we blogged about them here…) are hosting a “secret” party next Wednesday 10th April from 6pm onwards – and guess what – all of our readers are invited!

How does a secret party work?

You rock up and sign in at SnappyFit’s fitting room at Singapore Shopping Centre #03-16, Dhoby Ghaut on Wed, April 10^th from 6pm onwards.

Only upon signing in would the “password” and location for the secret party then be revealed – which is less than 5 minutes away. We keep wondering to ourselves – where on earth could this party be??

What to expect upon arrival?

OK maybe not the above…. BUT…

You can expect an exciting one-night only pop-up store of 10 ladies’ fashion brands mostly found exclusively online, complimentary wine, light finger food, goodie bags and lucky draw prizes at a gorgeous, secret venue.

And how about a little present for our loyal readers?

All you need to do is quote: “Carmen and Natasha say Snap!” and receive the following:

- 10% of SnappyFit’s retailers’ items on the day of the event (just quote it at the cashier),

- plus FREE EXPRESS MANICURE by Pretty 360 (located same building as SnappyFit – just quote it at cashier to receive the voucher).

Did we also mention that you get goodie bags?

Goodie bag sponsors : Jitterbugs Swingapore, Real Yoga, Art Palates, Molto Chic, Pretty 360, Cleanse & Trend facials and more..

How fun! We both plan to be there so look out for us!

Carmen & Natasha x

OTKUDA: New collection 2013!!!

Ok so we are super excited, Irina, the amazing designer behind the brand OTKUDA, has brought out her new 2013 collection!

She has continued to offer her amazing tank tops (our favourite is the pink and beige combo) – you can see it really works below teamed with a simple blue skirt (also in her collection) and we added a contrasting belt to boot! The material is lightweight and great for Singapore.

OK we want this amazing turquoise maxi skirt below. It’s cotton, flowy and so comfortable! We paired this with a darker blue for contrast (the top is also available at Otkuda). By the way – the elephant statue in the background actually belongs to Irina – amazing!Carmen was pretty obsessed with this elephant statue – if only we could fit this in our own homes! Anyway here is an Otkuda top from behind – it’s a simple white tank with black detailing which makes it suddenly interesting! We would also tuck this top into a skirt for a more sophisticated look.

Talking of statues, check out this other crazy one found at Irina’s house as well! LOVE!

This is such a great dress below – again it’s the dress version of the pink top above, however the material is so breathable and comfortable that you could easily hang out at home in this, then throw some flats on to run to the shops, or pair with heels/ gladiator sandals to go out for dinner! The dress also comes in black (below). We also love the contrasting slit at the side of the dress – so clever!

This skirt below by Otkuda is a little different. We love when designers match prints with other random prints – so Etro! This is a fun flowy skirt and we think the floral print makes it feel very vintage-y. We can imagine taking this skirt out for high-tea with the girls! How fun!

An amazing leaf dress by Otkuda! It’s made out of the sort of fabric that changes look depending on the light – so we’ll show you a couple of photos of what it looks like when worn outside as well! You can see the dress also comes in blue (see on right!). Firstly: indoors look… Secondly – outdoors look, modeled by Irina the designer herself! Loving the gold pumps too!

Here is a cute Otkuda skirt that we must admit reminds us of our school girl days, although is definitely more exciting thanks to the print! Teamed with a white t-shirt or black shirt and perhaps some kitten heels we think this could be styled to look classy rather than schoolgirl! So those are our absolute favourites from the entire new Otkuda 2013 collection! We should also note that the sizes are available in S and M. If you are extremely petite (i.e. XS or XXS) or the garments need some general alteration (hemline etc), Irina is happy to alter for you at an additional charge).

To see the complete collection, feel free to visit:

https://www.facebook.com/House.Of.Otkuda

 

Bukit Timah Community Club market this Sunday 31st March: 10am-5pm

Not sure what to do this Easter weekend? This is a bit of a plug as Carmen will be there with surviveSG.com, but hey we think it’s worth telling you about and you can always just pop by to say hello and talk about fashion in SG!

surviveSG.com will be at the Bukit Timah Community Club’s monthly market this Sunday (March 31^st) – from 10am until 5pm.

Address: Bukit Timah Community Club; 20 Toh Yi Drive, 596569 – there is parking off Toh Yi Drive.

What will they be selling?

High quality organic & natural products that have been specifically selected to combat the humidity and other factors in Singapore. We’re also talking about products that  generally are not easy to find (forget finding these products in Watsons!)

• original mineral O&M hair serum with Argan oil and Macadamia nut oil to combat hair frizz in Singapore – an awesome Australian product – Cameron Diaz, Miranda Kerr and Rachel Zoe are fans.

• all natural  mosquito repellant products: patches, candles, anti-bug balm, twist up sticks, scented room gels

• badger balm products: organic sunscreen (with no nasty chemicals – this is known to be one of the safest on the market) for babies and adults, after sun balms, sleep balms for kids and adults, stress and headache soothers – all natural!! Also selling gift packs!

• red flower face mists – this brand has a serious celebrity cult following with the likes of Heidi Klum, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway and Scarlet Johansson.

• totes umbrellas - fun designs and with a lifetime guarantee!

• intelligent nutrients shampoo, conditioner and body gels – created by the co-founder of AVEDA, there are some women in Singapore that swear by this product!

• also selling cosmetics that will amaze you!

And you can try all of their products out at the stall before you buy…

Here is a sneak peak!

There will be other local vendors selling accessories, clothing and other goodies too – so come along and support local businesses in Singapore!!

What else is in the area?

After visiting the market, we recommend the following places which are nearby and worth checking out!

Grab a treat from the bakery, lunch or a coffee at Carpenter & Cook (3 minute walk from the market!). They also sell vintage homewares!

 Address: 19 Lorong Kilat #01-06 Singapore 598120

Sixth Avenue, Bukit Timah (10 minute drive from the market)

If you have never visited, we highly recommend Brazil Churrasco (it’s where the Brazilians in Singapore go!) and Casa Roma for fantastic Italian including wood fired pizzas (just as good as Pepperoni’s in our opinion and the service is excellent!)

TIP: Park at Guthrie house opposite Sixth Avenue and walk across.

Ever been to the Grandstand before in Bukit Timah? It’s the former Turf Club that used to house avid horse racing spectators! Now it’s becoming one of THE destinations in Bukit Timah! (10 minute drive from the market)

Address: 200 Turf Club Road (Free parking!)

Valentino’s restaurant (Italian) has relocated here. We also recommend MAD (Modern Asian Diner) which has some great food at reasonable prices and is family friendly (the kids will love it). They serve both Chinese and Western food. It’s also fun ordering via an ipad and service was great the last time Carmen visited. Cocktails are also very good if you interested (by the same guys that introduced Bar Stories to Singapore) – highly recommend the Strawberry Shortcake!! Here is MAD below:
Omakase burger is also worth a mention. On their menu board for sides: “Every burger needs a sidekick”. Every time we walk past this place is jam packed – which is a good sign!

Maison Kayser also has a bakery outlet here and twelve cupcakes is worth a visit also!

And to top it off there is a PasarBella (70 independent gourmet grocers all under the one place – think farmer’s market style!) so you can finish off with a bit of grocery shopping!

Fashion launch 2013: Attaby

Carmen recently attended the Attaby collection 2013  launch party at LOOF bar.

We love LOOF bar and think the recent renovations are pretty cool. We will have to go back there again sometime.

Anyway the Attaby party was held in the private room behind the main bar area. The 2013 collection is inspired by the French Riviera and as explained by Attaby founder Claire, the dresses were designed with that “beach to bar” idea in mind.

We must admit we aren’t the “resort wear” type of girls, however if you are a big fan of simple, breathable dresses in various suitable colours for Singapore, then Attaby is worth a look. Especially if you are considered “plus size” in Singapore and struggle to find clothes (and let’s face it, that just simply means you aren’t double zero sizing and extremely petite!). Out of all the design below was our favouite and we could imagine pairing it with a large straw floppy hat, big sunglasses and blue wedges whilst traveling around the French countryside! Price: $160SGD

Most dresses were priced around the $160SGD mark. We’re not really sure how much resort wear fashion should cost (given it isn’t our style we haven’t really purchased any!) but we can tell you that the quality of the fabric was good. You can check out Attaby’s full collection at:

www.attaby.com

Shopping in Hong Kong

Carmen recently visited Hong Kong. Dim sum, swanky rooftop bars and WELL GROOMED MEN EVERYWHERE. Even the magazines featured more male models then females. Interesting….

See below for an example – this was at a “raw food” takeaway joint in Soho! The best dressed person at this joint was…. *drumroll*…. a man! Impressed!

Anyway back to the shopping… here is a cute orange dress from Club Monaco (one of Carmen’s favourite brands!)

There was so much colour in the shops – how joyful are the shoes in the middle?!! These were spotted in the Tod’s store.

Wow we wish we could have this shoe rack in our homes! Spotted at Tod’s. Which colour would you wear? Carmen’s favourite were the light green at the bottom!

Wallets and card holders in fun colours at TOD’s! Red wallet or purple wallet? Can’t decide!

And here is a colour that was spotted throughout Hong Kong – turquoise! Loving this colour – at TOD’s. More TOD’s ballet pumps in rainbow colours! 

Well we know black and white stripes are in fashion – they have been spotted all over the place! But how about these shoes?! Admittedly black and white still remind us of convicts however… perhaps its the fact that Carmen is from Australia and all that English convict history saga is just too raw….

Pretty pastel bags spotted at PRADA. Yes we know what you are thinking – did Carmen seriously spend all her time in designer stores? Well no, she ate twice her body weight in food as well. It was quite a feat.

The new turquoise colour from Ferragamo below – how delightful!! Love love LOVE. Reminds us of St Barts (minds are starting to wander just thinking of a tropical oasis right now….)

Anyway back to the amazeballs turquoise blue that Ferragamo has released as its new colour. LOVE these wedges – they would look amazing paired with a pretty white sundress! The only problem? In Singapore it gets crazy hot and your feet swell, so we think these shoes are best suited to overseas trips to colder places OR you must purchase in an extra size up to allow for your feet to breathe! Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

The amazing streetscape whilst walking around Central in Hong Kong. Oh look there’s Chanel and Van Cleef & Arpels sitting nicely together – how convenient….!

Back to the Ferragamo store, here is there latest collection in YELLOW. We’d be happy with any of the products below…. we’re just saying Ferragamo…. if you want to send us any as a way of saying thanks for being amazing bloggers, we wouldn’t say no

What do you guys prefer – the yellow or the blue?? Hmm tough decisions!

Carmen became a bit obsessed with the bag below. Ok we all have heard of the basket bag which was fashionable like seven light years ago, however it was so refreshing to see this proudly displayed in the Hogan store window. Perhaps this bag would be a great solution for anyone that is really messy, as it would force them to ensure the inside of their bag must look neat! Only problem is we can imagine the lipstick falling through – or worse, sanitary products! Ahh that would be Carmen’s luck…

This was the shoe display at Hogan (below)! Loving the neon pink which features in every single shoe on that table – funky!

And lastly, Vivienne Tam! Check out those bright colours – doesn’t it just inspire you to walk through and see what that collection is all about? Fun, we say. And yes, Carmen did a little bit of damage in Hong Kong. We will share that with you another day!

Bargain hunting at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market

Last week, Natasha went on long weekend getaway to Bangkok to get a dose of visits to the temple and museum. Okay who are we kidding, she went there to get pampered with glorious Thai massages, real Thai food, and an overdose of retail therapy.

For those of you who have been to Bangkok, chances are you’ve been to Chatuchak Weekend Market at least once. It’s a gigantic market selling everything from used books to live animals and paintings. For those of you who haven’t been there, please be wise and go there in the morning, with a big bottle of water. It’s hot, stuffy and the 100% humidity due to the heat trapped under the roof does wonders to your hair (read: you may come out looking like you just had an 80s perm done to your hair. And no, not in a good way)

So after making various turns in the market’s nooks and crannies, Natasha came across various cute jewelry shops. Putting her ‘I-know-what-I’m-doing-when-it-comes-to-bargain-hunting’ look on her face, it only took a second until a friendly shopkeeper approached her to convince her to buy the necklace, because it’s cheap cheap and nice.

And please, do not, we repeat, do NOT, ask Carmen and Natasha to try to remember where these stalls were located, because finding the exit was an art in itself!

Below are some of the cute finds found at Chatuchak Market.

The necklace above has many tiny bells attached to it, so if you plan to sneak up and scare someone, don’t even think about it because he or she will be able to hear you from a mile away. This one costs a mere SGD30!

This one is Natasha’s favorite! Remember our previous post on Egyptian jewelry at the Met? Well, this necklace reminds her of one of the pieces. The colors, the design – divine! It’s actually from Afghanistan and costs SGD60.

This pastel flower necklace is Natasha’s second favorite. It’s so pretty and made in Korea. not bad for SGD40.

The black necklace looks awesome on. Half convinced when it was hung, Natasha decided to give this necklace a chance and tried it on. And boy, did it look amazing! A bit steep at SGD65, but heck – if you have a strong urge to buy it then just bloody buy it! Oh, that’s another tip for Chatuchak shoppers, if you see something you like, just buy it because chances are you will never find the shop again.

Watch out for more Bangkok write-ups – we love this city loads!

Parco next next collection 2013

Ok let’s go. No mucking around, we’re going to dive straight into it.

So Parco next next is launching their new collection, which includes the following local designers (WE LOVE SUPPORTING LOCAL DESIGNERS!)

And here are some pics of what caught our eye at Parco…

Angelia – we’re loving this local designer. We will go and visit her store at Orchard Central and try on some clothes so you can see more of her collection – amazing stuff and reasonably priced. Loving this black top below – we can imagine teaming this with a pair of leggings with an outrageous print on it… and still looking sophisticated

This was one of our favourite designers at Parco – it’s called CHALK by Priscilla Tan. We think she is massively talented and love how she works with brights (perfect for Singapore) whilst still maintaining a sophisticated edge. We will try on her clothes in the future so you can see how the clothes look on real life!Absolutely love the white dress on the far right – beautiful!

And here is the designer Priscilla looking amazing in her own label!

Alexandria Chen intrigues us – we will have to try on the clothes first before reporting back on whether they are more for show or if it is “real” fashion. Loving the colours of the neon with gray on the left, although we’re not a big fan of the balaclava-esque mannequin on the right – freaky!

And here is Lion Earl below – a much loved Singapore fashion label. We are loving the print on the dress, however we’re not sure how the design would look on a real person (around the bust area it could look a little odd). Ok so this section below – all from the brand Veira – is not “officially” part of the Parco local designers section, however we loved the decor so had to show you guys! 

Love the black book below – we both think we need a copy!

And here was another of our favourite designers – this is Saloni Rathor. Amazing colours (she uses a special dye which ensures the colour does not run or fade like other brands) and the collection is inspired by NATURE.

We love this designer so much that we will write up another post focusing on her collection, including photos of us in the clothes so you can see how it looks on a real person (just like the label Chalk!). Overall we think the label is inspiring and who doesn’t love brights!

This dress below was inspired by waterfalls. Interesting design, we’re keen to try it on so watch this space!

The collection was inspired by nature – the swirls of the orange clothes at the front were actually inspired by mountains in China – how cool is that?!

Got to love this orange maxi dress – simple but with cute detailing which makes it more interesting! We would love to team this with turquoise accessories!

Gosh we love the bright colours and the intricate design details – have a look at the sleeves on this top below! So beautifully pleated – we think this would look amazing with either white jeans or even a white pencil skirt! Or if you are feeling more adventurous, team it with contrasting colours – Singapore is the place to do it!

How perfect is this dress for the botanical gardens?!!!!

Very girly dress we admit below, but we love the contrasting colours – apparently this dress has been very popular!!

And in case you were wondering what Millenia Walk shopping mall looked like -check out below! Isn’t the ceiling glorious!!

 

 

A bit of fun at Parco next NEXT @ Millenia Walk

Carmen checked out the preview of Parco next NEXT’s new season (in case you do not know what Parco next NEXT is, we will sum it up quickly for you: an array of amazingly talented local designers who are provided the chance to sell their own collection in a large department store).

Before we show you what the new season has to offer (next post!), Carmen had also visited (aka stalked) Parco with a group of girlfriends last week who will be our GUEST MODELS for this blog post!!!…

It was a fun filled event of girlfriends trying on clothes – some of them a little bit “interesting” (i.e. not suitable to walk down the street without having masses of people sniggering or staring).

Now don’t get us wrong, we love independent designers and individuality, but sometimes we feel fashion can take itself too seriously. Let’s face it – we are two normal girls who like nice clothes that make you look AND feel good. And we don’t think we are alone there.

Enough talk, let’s just show you the gems that we found (and the clown outfits)…. all found on level 2 at Parco next NEXT (@ Millenia Walk)

This was an amazing pink dress we found, and it was less than $80SGD due to it being on sale. We thought this looked designer, and yes it was purchased by one of the girls (how could you possibly let this one go?!). The fabric was lightweight and perfect for Singapore, and we adore the embellishment at the collar which means no need for a statement necklace! We also love that you could rock this look in the office with a jacket, or glam it up for a night with the girls. 10 out of 10 for this outfit.

This dress we were not a big fan of – it just didn’t hug the curves right but we’re not sure whether it was just suited better on a different body type. Either way, unfortunately this one just didn’t fit!

Ok so we adored the colour of this dress below – it was a beautiful salmon pink, but number 1 – why is the dress so creased? Not sure if it was literally taken out of a bag, but get us a steamer pronto please! Anyway unfortunately this dress seemed to buckle around the middle, but we guess you could just pull the zip all the way down to solve that problem…..or not!

One of the other girls tried on the same dress in a different colour, and we must admit this fits MUCH better. So clearly it suits some body types better then others – we loved the below dress and thought it would be great for the weekend!

This dress below was an absolute bargain, and from memory was approximately $40SGD. This dress was purchased, and the collar had cute gold studs all over it which made the dress look a LOT more expensive then it really was! Great fabric too, it was breathable and we all wanted this dress!

These floral skinnies looked amazing on only one of us (several of us tried them on) – very frustrating that it didn’t seem to suit all body types as we all loved the design!

Moving on to the next pic below, we are a BIG fan of the dress on the left  – we saw this at one of the Parco events last year and it really popped out – definitely one of our favourites in terms of design and fit. We love the pink pop of colour on the sleeves, and it really is one of those dresses that you HAVE to try on (it looks much better on person vs on the rack).

The dress on the right: two girls tried this dress on and let’s face it….. it’s a complete disaster. Just doesn’t fit right around the waist and hips – again maybe we just all weren’t the suitable body type for this dress!

Here is another pic of that dress we love dearly:

And here is a GORGEOUS skirt below that we loved, BUT unfortunately it was just too short for us – completely out of our comfort zone here. It was so short that you couldn’t really sit down in it without feeling exposed, but we have a feeling that it would suit someone with a more petite frame. In any case we LOVED the unique design and feminine print.

And now you are thinking…. that’s great and everything, but where is the clown outfit? And here you have it!

To explain, it was a Friday night, and we had the entire Parco next NEXT section to ourselves. So we decided to get a bit more “creative” and daring, and try on clothes that were CUTTING EDGE (aka clown outfits). We actually rated the trousers – and according to our gorgeous guest model below, she was very comfortable in the whole outfit!

And we love that she rocked the hat too!

Check out the gold bag below – WOW! At first we all giggled and thought “how ridiculous” is that bag… but then we all warmed up to it and decided we LOVED it! A super big clutch, we think this could make an outfit really pop. Imagine even wearing a crisp white shirt with dark jeans, and carrying this clutch bag out to dinner – fabulous!

Bag wars below! Us girls had so much fun at Parco – we highly recommend grabbing a group of girlfriends and making it a fun filled night of shopping!    Our guest models really took their job very seriously….clearly! Loving the price tag earring on the left, the clown trousers in the middle (there you go – two clown outfits in this blog!) – although we must admit the trousers also look crazy yet cool, and of course WE LOVE THE BLUE CLOWN HAT!

Great news – the clown trousers can be rolled up or rolled down! We would love to know what you guys think – is it fashion disaster or genius?! Personally we think our guest models are rockin’ no matter what they wear! Love the clash of “Audrey Hepburn” on the left, and “Krusty the clown” on the right. And we promise that’s the last clown reference you will hear from us… probably ever!We had the BEST time at Parco next NEXT – there was so much variety to choose from clothes to accessories, we loved the individuality and creativeness within the space, and prices were very reasonable too!

Oh and another thing, you are shopping in air conditioning, so if shopping outdoors is not your thing at Haji Lane, then you really should check Parco out!

Thank you so much to our guest models – Anna, Claudia, Isabel and Michelle!

Next post: the new collection at Parco!

Colour inspiration: RED #worldcolours #worldcolors

The colour for this month is RED. So here it is: our favourite red pieces in Singapore!

A beautiful red handbag from YSL:

Marc Jacobs shopfront at Mandarin Gallery. We like the outfit on the left! Preppy, girly and whimsy all in one.

Loving this Marc Jacobs scarf – it’s part of their new collection (which means: exxy) but we absolutely love the design and oclours.

Embarrassingly enough we would be happy with any of the necklaces below, but we do love the typewrite one and the green/red combo- reasonably priced too! You can find these in the Hansel store at Mandarin Gallery on Orchard road.

Jelly shoes. If you live in Singapore and you do not own a pair of jelly sandals, then BUY THEM. They are awesome. Breathable and won’t get ruined if it rains. The ones below are Sebastian shoes from Italy, so they are super expensive, but hey they come in red and we love the designs. We found these in one of the shoe stores in Mandarin Gallery (sorry guys, can’t remember which one, but they stock a range of shoes from Europe).

The lighting in the below pic is a little dull and dreary, but hopefully you think it just adds to the effect considering the type of shoe you are looking at below seems quite ethereal! Amazing shoes at amazing(ly high prices).

Kate Spade red handbag alert below!

Shanghai Tang has a new collection out – and there are a few stand out red dresses included. Carmen is obsessed with this brand, and even eying up that vase in the background.

This bag was spotted in a seriously cool store called “Society of black sheep” at Marina Bay Shoppes. If you’re in that mall, then stop by this shop – it will be worth the effort for unique finds! Loving this bag below:

Out of all the above, we must admit the bag from the Society of black sheep is our favourite!

Blast from the past – Egyptian inspired jewelry at the Met Museum

On a snowy, wet and slushy late afternoon, Natasha decided to brace herself for the snowstorm brewing in New York to check out the exhibition currently being displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This museum is amazing and everytime she has the chance to go to the Big Apple, she always makes an effort to pop by.

And boy was she glad that she did! The museum happens to have  special exhibition on Egypt. Now we must admit we’re not crazy about tombs and mummies, but we’d be lying if we said that Cleopatra wasn’t hot! Her clothes, jewelry, even her haircut. So Natasha navigated her way through the mummies and Sphinx and headed straight to the jewelry section. Some of them were just jawdroppingly exquisite and gorgeous. She took a few photos of some of her favorite pieces, while silently oohing and aahing  at the Egyptian marvel – and we’re not talking about the pyramids!

This one was Natasha’s favorite! And you can see why – it’s so intricate and unique, it looks like it’s made up of little dainty spoons. Ladies, this necklace is simply divine and words simply cannot describe how much Natasha wanted to break the display glass, grab the necklace and run so fast it would put Forrest Gump to shame!

Check out the bracelet above and the necklace below. The design is so unique, vintage yet modern at the same time. You can picture these pieces on Nicole Ritchie’s or the Olsen sisters’ wrist and neck, can you not?

The necklace above such an attention grabber! How did they do this so well back in the days? Again, the colors and details combined with fantastic craftsmanship is such a winning combo!

This particular piece is one of the older ones on display, but they managed to find the different pieces and put them together. The different shapes, colors and sizes make this necklace droooooooolworthy.

The simplicity of the design above gets Natasha’s vote. From the sea urchin-inspired necklace, to the simple bracelet combined with the blue bangle, makes a stylish combo.

Last, but definitely not least, Natasha’s second favorite piece of all the pieces she saw. She was just flabbergasted when she saw this bracelet, the detailing and beautiful clasp to close the bracelet…….. Just so exquisite and tasteful.

Well our dear readers, looking at the jewelry above, you can’t help but think ‘why don’t they make jewelry like this anymore’?! And that is exactly why we will always visit the Metropolitan Museum, you just simply never know what special treasures lie inside.

Watch out for more NYC blog posts in the days to come!

Spotlight on NYC Spring Fashion 2013 – The flagship Kate Spade Shop at SoHo

Every once in a while Carmen and Natasha have the privilege to tag along their other halves on their business trip. So while the men work, Carmen and Natasha have to do the hard work of walking around, shop, take a few pictures for the Carmen and Natasha blog. It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it, right?!!

This time around, it was Natasha’s turn to tag along to New York City, one of her favorite cities in the world! Despite it being winter in New York, nothing stopped her determination to check out what spring fashion in New York would look like.

For those of you who have been to New York, you would know how awesome SoHo is! It is  a great neighborhood with cute little shops (think Chapel Street in Melbourne, combined with the little alley ways like Flinders Lane). It’s packed with neighborhood bakery, cafes, trattorias, and many more hidden gems. Natasha was lucky to stay in this area for one whole week – she even had the chance to spy on Katie Holmes sitting quietly in a corner of the local cafes!

Without much consideration, she knew she had to check out the Kate Spade flagship store – rumor has it they’re going to open a three-story shop to accommodate all things Kate Spade, including her bridal and home collection! *note to self: think of an excuse to go to New York again when the shop opens.

The side entrance of the Kate Spade shop. On a freezing New York winter afternoon, going in the shop was the perfect excuse to ‘stay warm’.

The hot pink and stripes work really well, especially for spring. Thanks to Singapore’s freezing malls and offices, we can still wear something like this in this part of the world!

How cute are the mannequins? Imagine wearing the dresses with a pair of colorful pumps or even wedges. Love!

The shoes look so enticing that Natasha just had to try on a pair herself. In the world of Carmen and Natasha, trying often means buying and this time was no exception. And the best part? The lovely sales assistant gave her a generous 10% discount, because it was the last pair in size 8.5!

How gorgeous are these pointy slingback flats? The cork material combined with the neon patent tip really works. They would look adorable with a cute summer dress or an A-line skirt paired with a crisp white shirt and statement necklace.

Check out these cute espadrilles! Imagine pairing it with cotton shorts and a denim shirt. The denim ones were Natasha’s favorite.

We are loving what Kate Spade has to offer for the spring collection. It’s very pop art! We want them all!

We love the way the boxes are stacked – the colors are just amazing.

So long Kate Spade, we will definitely be back in NYC, preferably in spring when the weather is a lot more nicer.