Name in print hoorah!

My brain is still officially fried, and has been for awhile, so I’m going to share the best, or one of the best things that happened in 2011 while waiting for my brain juice to refill – that is getting to work with Nth’ Magazine (their website seems to be down at the mo’ so to their Facebook page it is)!

From my previous entry on my foray into the world of die-hard Japan lovers, it is no wonder why I was thrilled to work with them. A Japanese-style indie magazine, it covers the latest fashion and beauty trends in Japan, and offers styling tips from Fumi, their resident stylist hailing from the land of the rising sun itself.

So I helped out with the styling copy and this is what I’ve done:

Well, the slated release date of the magazine was around the holiday season so we had a Christmas special as well… My reason (ahem, excuse) is that it was such a whirlwind period I was drowning in all my deadlines and didn’t have much energy left to spare to update this space. Cross my heart!

Last but not least, how can you miss out on my mug shot (2nd row; 2nd from left)!

Picture credits to Nth’ Magazine.

If you like what you’ve seen, do pick up a copy when you happen to swing by any of their distributions points because it is FREE!

Can you feel the love?

Yours Always
Autymn

New Year Resolutions?

NAY. No New Year resolutions for me. No one ever sticks to them anyway. Kudos to those who do! It’s only five days into 2012 and I’m feeling as burnt out as my skin is sun burnt. Thanks to nine gruelling hours under the blistering sun for an outdoor shoot (no I wasn’t the model) I’m all baked. But it was quite the experience to be part of the shoot and I learnt stuff. I think?

Now that I’ve been freelancing for awhile and a new year means a new beginning, I’m starting to rethink my choices, decisions and options. I’m not sure if I like what I’m doing now because the amount of time and effort invested does not bring a reasonable return so I think it’s high time to rethink things.

I took to this route due to the time flexibility and opportunities to work in various fields and industries. But passion can only take you so far and one still needs to bring the dough home. Unless you’re getting commercial clients, you really get peanuts for slogging your ass off. Not much difference from holding a full-time job, except that the work is halved i.e. so is the pay. Or more than halved. So in actual fact, it doesn’t work out.

Crappy situation aside, I’ve finally started my Japanese classes! After years of procrastination, I decided that 2011 was going to be the year where things happen. But that said, it is now my main source of distress. School fees. I’d love to concentrate on the launch of my new project (hush hush!) but that would mean close to zero income. A big fat zero. I don’t think I can perform magic such as pulling out cold hard cash out of my ass.

So what now? I seem to have drifted off from what I initially intended, even for this blog. Yes I wanted to write, and I wanted to write about fashion, about the things I love. But most importantly, I want to reach out to like-minded people and touch their lives. Especially those who are struggling, are going through or have gone through tough times. Those who feel like no one understands or no one accepts them for who they are. I want to tell them that there’s me, even if I may just be a wall of text ten thousand miles from where they are. It’s my dearest “P” girls who inspired me to feel this way and without them, I probably wouldn’t even be here.

A new year, a season to start afresh, a time to self reflect. So much to process.

Yours Always
Autymn

P/S: Will resume writing! Sorry for the neglect.

Depression: Triggers Tears

… Tears of joy.

If there was any local label who owned black and white designs, it’d be Depression. Never have I attended a launch where everyone (read: everyone) was decked out in the brand’s hallmark colors.  At the official opening of their Cineleisure store yesterday that saw the final drops of their latest collection, Birth Defects, it was a complete sea of monochrome. It totally felt like some sort of insider identity. Loads of love from their loyal supporters indeed! That much is obvious.

Helmed by Kenny and Andrew, the ex-Art Director and writer duo made their foray into the fashion scene in 2006, uprooting from their corporate jobs that left them weary and jaded. Born out of discontentment, the outfit serves as an outlet for their creativity and innermost selves, which is dynamic to say the least.

Known for their versatile and androgynous constructions, each piece urges the wearer to tap into their imagination and have fun, which is the exact point of fashion! A stoic colour palette doesn’t mean a boring look, and definitely doesn’t represent a drab persona. I actually think it requires someone of a certain character to pull off their radical threads.

Drapes, anomalous lines, montages and asymmetrical cuts all come together to create that edge, to put the oomph in simplicity. Along with functional details such as ingenuous buckles and buttons, every assembly is one of a kind.

What’s even better is  that all their items are unisex! In fact, due to a rather unfortunate but fated incident, I ended up purchasing a mens shirt (above; second from left) last night. Someone bumped into me and caused me to spill red wine all over my white shirt (yes you read that right, red wine on white shirt) so I had no choice but to get a change of clothes.

Here’s a shot David, one of my new found friends, and I in the same blouse!

Picture credits to lovely Rana of Bonjour Singapore.

Props to Kenny and his discerning eye for picking out the exact top that I was deliberating over so I guess it was a destined buy. The material’s soft and the fit’s great so I’m not complaining! I reckon it’s the universe conspiring to find ways to empty out my wallet.

Which brings me to their newly released Spring/Summer 2012 T-Shirts, two of which I’m already eyeing.

Aren’t they quirky? I think they make good for casual wear but still retain that funkiness to avoid looking like one of those basic run-of-the-mill tees. You can check out the rest of the range on their Facebook page!

 Like-minded folks who lean a little to the left, be sure to check out: 

Flagship Store
8 Grange Road
#03-05A, Cineleisure Orchard

9 Raffles Boulevard
#P2-21, PARCO
Millenia Walk

Yours Always
Autymn

Outfit Post #9: A Touch of Baroque

It’s been pretty busy lately due to all the year end/Christmas flurry but I managed to squeeze some time out to attend the the soft launch of Asia Fashion Inc, an e-tailer aimed at building a portfolio of Asian designers, last week.

Wanted to wear one of the two new pair of pants I bought last month but sadly they didn’t even remotely fit. Ah, the woes of online shopping! I find buying bottoms, especially pants to be a pain in the butt because I don’t have perfectly tapered legs. What fit my hip and thighs might not fit my cankles. Am I the only one who has this problem?

Before I find a solution to the pressing issue, I’ll be sticking to a-line skirts for awhile.

Top: Dulcetfig
Bottom: Chicwish
Brooch:  Vintage, US ((for sale on my to-be launched online vintage boutique!)
Stockings: Romwe 
Footwear: Nine West
Bag: Forever New, AU
Cuff: House of Harlow, ASOS 

I think I’m an old soul at heart. My favourite eras are of the age old, like the Victorian age and Heian period, where quality was of utmost importance and everything was extremely well tailored. The luxe factor was impeccable.

Someone invent a time machine already!

Yours Always
Autymn

Dr. Martens x Swarovski Elements: Like Stars on Your Feet

This Christmas, what topped my lust list is the entire Dr. Martens x Swarovski Elements collection. Instead of the usual bling and shimmer on the togs, I’d much rather go with a pair of dazzling (literally) footwear. Can’t expect any less from a self-professed shoe whore!

An unexpected, but absolutely striking combination, the days where Dr. Martens are donned by young punks or factory workers have thankfully, faded into obscurity. Having collaborated with cutesy brands such as Hello Kitty, it’s almost a seamless move to pair up with a timeless Austrian classic next.

A mix of buttery Italian patent and calf leather, these tough glam stompers offer a choice between clear and smoky Swarovski crystals. Unsurprisingly, having the night sky on your soles come at a hefty price tag ($899 to $1,199), but so totally splurge-worthy!

With the label’s expansion into the street fashion arena and youth territory, it has gradually solidified its status as a style icon. So if you have a similar drift as to all fashionistas and arty-farties alike – to be expressive, individualistic, and most of all, different, then these stunners will definitely set you apart!

It was love at first sight but sky-high ticket items are out of my reach, sadly. That said, one can always dream right?

Be prepared to be starry-eyed this coming 16 December:

#02-17A Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road

Yours Always
Autymn

Asia Fashion Inc: Assembling Asia’s Rising Stars

How often does one get to meet like-minded individuals who’re passionate about fashion and took it a step further by making the Asia fashion revolution their charge? Lucky me, I got to know Timothy and Aidan, the duo behind Asia Fashion Inc (AFI), a newly launched online retailer aiming to bring Asia fashion to the world.

Currently armed with 15 labels, both local and regional, the total count will roll to about 40 across the next few months. Quite a feat don’t you think? I love that they’re trying to consolidate the regional countries as one, so that collectively we can stand as a single fashion “continent” like the big four – Paris, Milan, New York, London. Instead of bringing the world to Singapore, I think taking Asia global is a far greater, much more beautiful goal.

Soft-launched last evening at The Orange Thimble, it was a rather cozy affair and I bumped into a few familiar faces. Ditto Tammi from Fever Avenue (again ha!). So we stuck together throughout the night and had our fun styling the models with the retailing items.

Pity we couldn’t use the shoes due to some flooring issues. But aren’t they pretty? The accessories are really quaint too. They all come in limited quantities!

So here’s the outfit I styled on a very sweet and pretty Leah. Thou shalt not speak of her age but darn I was surprised!

After which we had our turn at taking our mug shots with the photo booth. White lights are like a natural enemy I swear.

If you’d like to know more about the designers and new trends, you can have a look at the AFI magazine, which will be published weekly. For the latest scoops on Asia’s fashion scene, hop by their Fashion Bulletin for your dose.

Before I leave you to indulge in some retail therapy, here’s Timothy (sorry didn’t manage to get one of Aidan!) alongside Vicky, a Korean stylist.

Get carting!

Yours Always
Autymn

Aimer at Beijing: Day 3

We’ve almost come to the end of the trip and phew! It has been a long journey. After the fashion show, the next day was spent on sightseeing and some shopping. Sadly, didn’t get much shopping done because I don’t do imitations and the real stuff are way too costly. Even more so than Singapore.

Our first stop was Forbidden City (duh) and thank heavens it was a warm day with clear blue skies. We reached around 8am and I thought there wouldn’t be much of a crowd but boy was I wrong! It was bustling!

Inside, the concourse was dotted with vendors haggling their wares. I’ve been to Forbidden City once when I was a kid and had hot tea eggs to ease the chills, but it seemed like it was no longer the trend. Instead, there were cob corn and candied haw (冰糖葫芦), which I so badly wanted to try but it looked kind of dusty so I figured it wouldn’t be wise.

That said, I did have it at our next destination (no photos because I was dead tired by then) and it was a bit of a disappointment. I didn’t expect Chinese Hawthorns ((山楂) to be that sour! I ended up just biting off the sugar coating.

In place of the candied haw that I couldn’t have till later, I went with an extra large piece of rock melon!

We then came across this lady who was selling headdresses that ancient China princesses wore and each of us girls bought one! While we were picking out our gear, her son sat quietly beside and I couldn’t resist taking a shot. I must say it’s my favourite picture this entire trip!

Urged everyone to take a goofy shot… Best memory ever!

It was a whopping four hours walking from the main gate to the garden exit and soon enough, I found every landscape similar! I wonder if it’s just me… We also had a chance to see the emperor’s chamber (or something like that) and I had to squeeze through an insane amount of people just to take one look.

I think I’m missing something because I don’t quite get the attraction. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen it before. But the whole architecture definitely looks much grander, and colours more vivid after the overhaul! I’m glad they decided to do it. Preservation of heritage is extremely important in cultivating culture and instilling a sense of identification and belonging in future generations. Something we seriously lack here.

Then it was more walking and photo-taking.

Then some…

Before we got ready to leave the place.

I was already taking random shots by then!

After which, we travelled to more destinations where the emperor went to pray for blessings. Which was actually quite a few! For the king so loved his country I guess.

Dinner was at this ultra posh Sichuan restaurant, South Beauty (俏江南), owned by Barbie Hsu’s (大 S) husband, Wang Xiao Fei (汪小菲). We were so excited when we got there but was “crying” by the end of it. The spiciness was through the roof! The quality and standard was exceptional though.

Unsurprisingly, we all ended up with a sore throat the next day. We did some shopping after the gluttonous dinner but I didn’t manage get much. Just socks (yes, socks). But I do have something prepared for you, my readers, who have given me your utmost support! Watch out for my first giveaway in the last post of this Beijing trip!

Yours Always
Autymn