Bold Umbrellas
A quick look back at our archives revealed that, with the exception of last year, this time each year I have an obsession with umbrellas. It must be the rain. Ironically though, as much as I harp on about cute umbrellas all the time, and despite having a very cute tiny umbrella from Accessorize, I always end up reaching for my sturdy mauve colored foldable umbrella from Walgreens (or when I am at home, whatever I can get my hands on that doesn't have a Mickey Mouse head on it). My cute Accessorize umbrella is just too delicate and cute for practical use. That is probably why I gave up writing about umbrellas last year.
Lately though, after viewing these gorgeously artsy polariods taken by my friend E with her red umbrella, I'm back to obsessing over umbrellas again.
Don't you just love them? The red umbrella just "pops" in every picture and makes the picture instantly more interesting. It is the perfect accessory to an otherwise dreary rainy day. I especially LOVE the first picture of the red umbrella against the marble (at least I think its marble) building. The brightness instantly draws attention to the person, who would otherwise be lost in the photo. An artist could not have better composed this picture. (And now I sound like I'm writing an art history paper....). 
Since I am always on the pursuit of the perfect picture, these pictures got me back to thinking about umbrellas again. Maybe my previous theory about umbrellas and how we should all get cute small ones was a bit off. Instead, we should get BOLD ones. Like that red umbrella and this colorful stripey one (left) from Accessorize (though again, careful with issues of fragility. You know you're not going to use it if you fear the wind will blow it inside out every other minute). Something bright and bold.
Another thing I am thinking about is long umbrellas. I've always been a practical foldable umbrella kind of girl. But somehow, somewhere, it got into my head that long umbrellas were cool. I have an image of myself walking down a quaint European street on a cloudy day swinging my long umbrella around on my arm looking cool and sophisticated. Naturally in my imagination, I have conveniently swept away the image of myself struggling with my all my things and finally spilling tea all over myself because one of my hand was too occupied holding an umbrella. I don't know why I think long umbrellas are cool. Perhaps it is the long, thin and elongated quality of the long umbrella, which I hope will reflect upon me and make me look long, thin and elongated as well, by just carrying it around with me? Sorry, art history coming in again.
This black/white long umbrella (right) from Top Shop fits my image perfectly. The simple horizontal stripes and the contrasting black/white color creates a sharp and bold vision that will work just as well as the red umbrella in terms of eye-popping-ness. Plus, there is the added advantage of being black/white and so will literally match all your outfits! Wow, now I REALLY REALLY want this umbrella!
And then there is the long clear umbrellas. I think this idea was sparked by a movie I saw, where in this scene the camera just follows a girl around in a busy city, and she's just holding this completely refreshing clear umbrella, while everyone else were holding black or some other equally somber looking umbrellas. I've been thinking about them ever since, especially this summer when I saw them selling in a local supermarket. Somehow though it just didn't seem right- and you want to make sure that it is right, because a clear umbrella go wrong can just look cheap. I finally realized why the other day. It was the shape. It was just too bland and normal.
These bubble umbrellas (above) on the other hand, from UO, are just right. I love the deep shape and the simple stripe of color outlining it. The shape is just so ... Mary Poppin-esque (I think). So cute! Plus, this will also match all your outfits! And if you still want a bold "pop," the pink/red version is perfect.
Now I think the question is, do I really need another umbrella? And if/when I convince myself that I do need another one, which one??
Image Source: Top Shop, Accessorize and Urban Outfitters
Lately though, after viewing these gorgeously artsy polariods taken by my friend E with her red umbrella, I'm back to obsessing over umbrellas again.
Don't you just love them? The red umbrella just "pops" in every picture and makes the picture instantly more interesting. It is the perfect accessory to an otherwise dreary rainy day. I especially LOVE the first picture of the red umbrella against the marble (at least I think its marble) building. The brightness instantly draws attention to the person, who would otherwise be lost in the photo. An artist could not have better composed this picture. (And now I sound like I'm writing an art history paper....). 
Since I am always on the pursuit of the perfect picture, these pictures got me back to thinking about umbrellas again. Maybe my previous theory about umbrellas and how we should all get cute small ones was a bit off. Instead, we should get BOLD ones. Like that red umbrella and this colorful stripey one (left) from Accessorize (though again, careful with issues of fragility. You know you're not going to use it if you fear the wind will blow it inside out every other minute). Something bright and bold.
Another thing I am thinking about is long umbrellas. I've always been a practical foldable umbrella kind of girl. But somehow, somewhere, it got into my head that long umbrellas were cool. I have an image of myself walking down a quaint European street on a cloudy day swinging my long umbrella around on my arm looking cool and sophisticated. Naturally in my imagination, I have conveniently swept away the image of myself struggling with my all my things and finally spilling tea all over myself because one of my hand was too occupied holding an umbrella. I don't know why I think long umbrellas are cool. Perhaps it is the long, thin and elongated quality of the long umbrella, which I hope will reflect upon me and make me look long, thin and elongated as well, by just carrying it around with me? Sorry, art history coming in again.
This black/white long umbrella (right) from Top Shop fits my image perfectly. The simple horizontal stripes and the contrasting black/white color creates a sharp and bold vision that will work just as well as the red umbrella in terms of eye-popping-ness. Plus, there is the added advantage of being black/white and so will literally match all your outfits! Wow, now I REALLY REALLY want this umbrella!
And then there is the long clear umbrellas. I think this idea was sparked by a movie I saw, where in this scene the camera just follows a girl around in a busy city, and she's just holding this completely refreshing clear umbrella, while everyone else were holding black or some other equally somber looking umbrellas. I've been thinking about them ever since, especially this summer when I saw them selling in a local supermarket. Somehow though it just didn't seem right- and you want to make sure that it is right, because a clear umbrella go wrong can just look cheap. I finally realized why the other day. It was the shape. It was just too bland and normal.These bubble umbrellas (above) on the other hand, from UO, are just right. I love the deep shape and the simple stripe of color outlining it. The shape is just so ... Mary Poppin-esque (I think). So cute! Plus, this will also match all your outfits! And if you still want a bold "pop," the pink/red version is perfect.
Now I think the question is, do I really need another umbrella? And if/when I convince myself that I do need another one, which one??
Image Source: Top Shop, Accessorize and Urban Outfitters
Stud Earrings
When I first got my ears pierced back in high school, I only ever wore studs. They were simple, cheap (25hkd/ 3usd for a pair) and most importantly, super easy to wear. I would have one pair on and not have to take it off for a few months at a time. Sure, my habit with earrings wasn't particularly stylish or exciting, but I didn't know about the variety of earrings out there and I was mainly concerned about keeping the skin from growing back. Then I grew up and realised that there are so many pretty and wide range of earrings out there that I stopped buying studs. At the same time, I got even lazier (as if it was possible,) and I've been wearing earrings only about once a month, again just to keep my ears pierced. I've mainly been buying long, dangly earrings and usually only wear them for nights out.
But recently, I bought a pair of pale green, rose studs (like the image above,) and now I'm addicted! I've never really worn colourful earrings before so that was a new thing for me. Also, wearing studs just suddenly seemed so much simplier and easier compared to dangly earrings and hoops. So now I'm on a lookout for studs. I want them simple, but not boring.
The ones I want to avoid are the ones that spell out the brand name. Most of them look a bit tacky and just simply too obvious. The only ones I think are potentially cute are Chanel ones -not really sure why. 
This pair of wing studs by Giles & Brothers is SO cool! I love them! The details to the metal make the earrings look stylish in that vintage-y way.
I've always wanted something that had skulls on it but I never thought they were worth it. I think this pair is ok though-it's got tiny crystals in the eyes so it would look more designed and hopefully less juvenile. Yes, I know skulls are so two seasons ago but I still like them. This pair is by Tom Binns. 
Even though I usually prefer things to be symmetrical, I think these are too cute to dislike. I prefer the XO pair by Giles & Brother, but the LOVE studs by Jennifer Zener are really cute too!
I usually think style items in the shape of lips look cheap and tacky, but I think this pair is done really well and are quite adorable! Although for 242usd, they really should look classier than most! Gosh, I really need to keep an eye out for any sales and discounts now!Sure, stud earrings aren't the epitome of the earring trend (whatever it is at the moment), but they just look too charming and easy to wear to resist!
American Apparel Reglan Pullover
For some odd reasons, no one seems to understand that my definition of 'effortless' is genuinely effortless and possibly lazy. I've decided that if I was going for the effortless look, I might as well actually put in little time, as opposed to spending lots of time to look effortless.
It's weird because my high school friends, who know me well but don't go to the same universtiy, can't imagine me going to lectures in a boring tee, jeans and sneakers. But to myself and to people who I see at school, (and even my mum who visited me for only five days last term,) I probably look like I live in these two American Apparel shirts. Ever since I bought them last fall, I just can't stop wearing them! All I ever do now is rotate between the two..jpg)
OK, so admittedly, I first bought the grey shirt because I was looking for a boring and easy-to-wear shirt for school, and after seeing Mary Kate in them and realising that the shirts were actually affordable, I thought that I simply must get them. This 'look' was exactly what I was looking for, something loose and comfortable, and something that would suit bootcut and straight-leg jeans. The poor friend who I dragged into the store (and she doesn't like American Apparel because the clothes are just boring,) was not amused when I made her sit through my agonising over what colours and sizes to get. And after wearing the grey one for a few times, I was so in love with it that I went to get another one in Cranberry (colour), which looks great with pale skin.
Another thing I love about it is that the sleeves hang a lot below the armpit -kind of like batwing tops, so I can wear it for many times before they need to be washed, (whereas with normal tops, I have to wash them probably after wearing them two times.) A warning though: I don't know if it's because I wear the grey top more or they're just not as good quality, but the grey, tri-blend top has already got little fuzzy bits on it, and it's not like I've washed it often. Oddly enough, the cranberry one is still nice and soft. I know I shouldn't, but I'm so tempted to get another one! Maybe one in a lighter colour, like this mauve one. So tempting...
Who else here only lives in a few shirts? Or do you prefer to really doll up everyday (like Marissa and Summer did in The OC)? I suspect most people are probably somewhere in between right?
Image Credits: http://www.americanapparel.net/
Ruched Flats
Ever since I first saw the ruched up flats over at Tods (above) many many many years ago, I've wanted a pair. Not because I thought it looked especially pretty over other flats, but simply because I thought the ruched up thing is just so cool, even though I know that it is all probably an attention grabbing gimmick, since obviously once you are wearing them no one can see the ruch anyway and they will look like normal flats. But alas, there were so many other items on my "want" list that were even cuter that I never really got around to it.
Recently I finally got a pair of ruched flats. Not exactly the Tods one, but they're ruched and they're even cuter, like the two above from Miu Miu (left) and Botch (right). The other night I happily took it out for a test drive and OUCH they hurt! The two points at the side in the front and at the back. Being a seasoned shoe lover, I've been tortured by pretty but painful shoes enough to have tougher more blister proof feet by now, but after a day, I was walking funny in difference to the pain. They are really good quality shoes too from a brand that I've never had a problem with before! Which brings me to my question, are ruched flats in general a pain to wear or is it just mine ? And if so, WHY do people persist in producing them when really they don't create much aesthetic value unless you are not wearing them?Mine are patent leather, which I know makes a difference. But physically speaking, the ruch DOES add more pressure points to the feet since the feet has to stretch them out and all to keep their shape.......
And come to think of it, why do brands like Tory Burch (left) and Urban Outfitters (right) produce flats with ruches at the back? They look cuter, but once you wear them and stretch it out, one really can't see it. Do they make the fit of the shoe better or add to the pain by adding another pressure point?Image Source: Saks, Shopbop and Urban Outfitters
The Skirt With Origami-Like Folds
For the past two seasons, I've been really liking this kind of look: a dress with a few layers of the skirt bit below, or alternatively, a long top with that kind of skirt. (This dress is by Marc by Marc Jacobs from last season.) This look has moved from high fashion collection to street fashion recently, where most people wear multi-layered skirt/ underdress underneath a long sweater, at least in Asia anyways. 
But ever since the Miu Miu S/S07 and Luella S/S08 show, I've been trying to find a mini-skirt with those gorgeous, origami-like folds. I LOVE them! They look so artistic and high-fashion-like, yet still so simple and wearable. For some odd reasons, even though I remember Miu Miu's S/S07 show starting my hunt for this kind of skirts, I can't find a picture of it so here are the Luella ones. I especially love that Batman-inspired look! See how the black miniskirt adds serious style to the outfit? Seriously, those folds are so cute!
Marc Jacobs F/W07 collection also had something similar -a simple, easy-to-wear shift dress with pretty, colourful fold details beneath. The other day, I was wondering around a Korean shop, which seems to specialise in imitating high fashion clothes, but with a cute, casual twist. Imagine how happy I was when I found this:
Sorry about the poor quality photo -it looked worse with flash, but you get the idea. The upper part is basically dark grey/ almost black, and the folds are two different shades of purple. They had another version in beige and yellow, which I thought was more special but not as easy to wear. I loved it so much I just wore it straight to dinner. Luckily, I was wearing a cute black silk top and red kitten heels for dinner anyways, so they matched perfectly.Like it or not? Thoughts?
Image Credits: http://www.vogue.co.uk/, http://www.net-a-porter.com/