blanco

Went to Manila for a very short trip last month. I managed to sneak in a quick trip to Blanco at SM Aura and scored this neon top sale for half-off!

I've paired it with my gray trousers for a full neon effect! 



The trousers are Ma's old pair from the 80s! I love the loose fit and boxy cut (and I think I've spied some similar silhouettes at Zara lately.) 




I was wearing: Blanco neon top, Ma's old trousers, studded sandals from H&M.

music and me

Because music, like dressing up is a big part of my everyday and one of my favorite indulgences, I thought I'd start a new series here on the blog matching outfits with specific songs or artists. 

It's not a big surprise really as music has always influenced fashion (just look at what's walking on the runway and what kids were listening to in the 90s!) and some of the biggest musicians are known not just for their music but for their iconic fashion.

I'll start off with my go-to look (equally, my go-to music on the iPod) - 90s alternative. 

Part of the 90s Brit pop/post-punk movement is Elastica made up of 3 girls and 1 guy. Their style of all black/tomboy look have resonated with me throughout the years and I usually resort to this look when I'm feeling badass. 

My take

This look came to be cause I am so in love with my new black boots. I've tried them paired in with my usual uniform of pencil skirt and boots but this time, I wanted to max out their full tomboy-tough chick potential. 

Decided to pair with my black skinny pants and loose camo top (which I super love btw. It's the perfect type of loose for me.) As a bonus point, I just love how the black and black immediately elongated my otherwise stumpy legs. :P

These boots are love.

I was wearing: Camo top gifted by Cuz, black skinny pants from Coats at Tangs (old), H&M boots.

my Coachella lookbook

No! I wasn't at Coachella but the past two weekends, we've been bombarded with photos of the Coachella fashions - from the urban-Boho mash-up to Flower Power flowy dresses to 90s grunge fashion.
(Though I must say some of the celeb styles were a bit try-hard (*cough* Vanessa Hudgens)

Looking through some of my own outfit posts, I realize I can re-use these for a Coachella lookbook.

My version of the urban boho by combining this tie-dyed flowy dress with my utility vest. 

Keeping the tie-dye theme with these pants topped off with a denim vest. The ankle boots seems to be a Coachella staple. This pair is a comfy one with a low heel but even then, I can't imagine wearing this while standing on Coachella grounds all day. I'd probably swap with flat ones.


A throwback to the 70s Flower Power - bell-bottomed jeans.


Or, paying homage to my favorite decade - my own growing up years - the 90s grunge! Nirvana Nevermind tee and denim cut-offs (another Coachella staple).

Denim cut-offs + ankle boots are the Coachella must-haves. 

blue collar

Here's another 90s outfit, featuring the flannel shirt I just recently picked up.

Since the shirt is about 3x bigger than what I usually wear, it almost looks like a parka. To add to the whole blue collar, man of the woods effect, kept the details like the cuffed sleeves deliberately messy.




This look might have been inspired by two things: I am currently re-reading Margaret Atwood's Surfacing or because I recently came across an old GQ photoshoot of Scott Speedman and this is my favorite from that set:




I was wearing: Cotton On flannel shirt, tank top from Dorothy Perkins, boyfriend shorts from Greenhills (Manila), Charles & Keith court shoes.

identity crisis

I was in high school when the whole grunge/alternative movement came into mainstream and became the soundtrack to my generation. So, I can't help it that 90s alternative music holds a special place in my heart. 



I guess us kids from the 90s dressed up like today's hipsters. Ha!


Super love my Nirvana tee.



90s style won't be complete without the leather bracelets and tough accessories.


I miss the 90s!


I was wearing: Nirvana top from H&M, Cotton On plaid shirt, skinny jeans from Target, shoes from Charles & Keith.

plaid + denim

No, I didn't suddenly turn into a hipster! This look is more like a nod to my favorite era - the 90s.


And since I am channeling 90s here, I thought I'd try something:

Ha! Doesn't black+white just recall those 90s Calvin Klein print ads?


Once more, with attitude:



Of course a 90s look isn't complete without the chunky silvers and leather.


Well, today is the start of a long, festive weekend to welcome the Year of the Dragon. Can't wait to spend mine at my favorite place in all of Singapore - the gym! (And maybe catch a movie too!) 


I was wearing: Flannel shirt from Cotton On, Terranova jeggings, flat ankle boots from Zara, Uniqlo belt.

90s kid

Originally posted on Impossible Girl blog.


Every time I watch a 90s music video on youtube, I'm bound to come across a comment of someone waxing lyrical for that time of grunge/alternative music and Generation X jadedness. While I do feel nostalgic for the 90s (my go-to playlist on Launchcast is 90s Alternative), I feel so lucky that I experienced the 90s first-hand. I was in high school when the Seattle grunge scene exploded, when Clueless and Singles were playing in theatres and when kids aspired to be angsty.


One other 90s phenom I remember well is the 90s fashion of babydoll dresses, Doc Marten boots, torn-up jeans and plaid skirts. 

Kurt Cobain in ripped Levi's
Nowadays, you can pick up a pair of jeans conveniently ripped up for you. In the 90s, I remember kids DIY-ing that. 



Winona Ryder in Reality Bites
Unfortunately, I can't find a pic that has a full shot of the outfit. Winona Ryder looked so so good wearing a t-shirt and oversized jeans. Please, Katie Holmes didn't start the whole boyfriend jeans trend. Kids from the 90s were already wearing jeans two sizes bigger.



Courtney Love
I remember I used to own a checkered babydoll dress that I bought from Kamiseta! Like Courtney Love, I also paired it with boots. 



Alicia Silverstone in Clueless
This movie started a whole style trend! And like me, did you also dream of having a computer mix and match your outfits for you? 


This is my take:



Wore the 90s uniform of flannel shirt and ripped jeans. I intended to wear my booties with this outfit but with the downpour this morning, I decided against it.



Keeping the tail of my shirt un-tuck is one of my favorite style tricks. Stylishly disheveled is the goal.


I was wearing Cotton On flannel shirt, Levi's classic 501s, belt from Uniqlo and pointy shoes from Charles & Keith.