Hot Summer!

Hot Summer means hot shorts people! As temperatures are shooting up this summer, one must need to cool down and still look oh-so-fabulously-chic. Now, in the tropics like Singapore, shorts have long been embraced by many, from the coffee shop uncle to the young school boy to the working professionals to the sportsmen all the way to our dads cause simply, its just freaking comfortable. Of course,you can definitely differentiate between the fashionably charming from the fashionably challenged. Wearing shorts to the market is definitely fine. Shorts on a date? Maybe, too casual. But a day out and about in town? Perfect! These days, our walking shorts (or our everyday shorts) are not those three for ten dollars bargain in the market, its more tailored and refined. These shorts nowadays are smart enough to be worn with like sports coat or jacket. Let's just say, the shorts this summer isn't short ons style.

Let's start with the tank top (or singlet as we Singaporeans call it) and shorts combination that all the ah peks are sporting. But, let's bring it up a notch (or lots and lots of notches) with this D&G number. I love this D&G take on shorts. The use of a leather black shorts (check out the zipper detailings!) with a black tank top with that cute bear logo is just flirtatious, sexy and yet kinda cute too. Pair it with those black leather gladiator sandals and you get an outfit perfect for shopping in Orchard on sunday afternoon. Ok, maybe the leather shorts might be too hot for the streets of Orchard! Nonetheless, its rockstar with a warm heart!

When you need to hit the beach, hit the Gucci stores first. I mean look at this patterned shirt and short shorts ( like really short shorts!!) Its so sunny and fresh. And those shades! I love the shades and the bag! Big enough to stuff in your towels, swimgear, sunblock or suntan and ipod. hee. And oh, unless you are blessed with godlike body and stunningly good looks, avoid full patterned from head to toe or you'll look like some ah pek who wore curtains.

Or, how about a walk in the park in the evening? The sun is almost out and the weather is cool. What should you wear? Hmm... let's go for this Junya Watanabe pink checkered shirt and black old school sweater and blue knee length shorts and the hat. But, let's just stop there! Only wear it with those fugly green socks if you are retired and is just spending your retirement vacationing. Ok, this combination is for the rich ah peks! I don't mind wearing the pieces SEPARATELY but not altogether like this! yucks!

You can wear your shorts effortlessly airy like the one you see here by Fendi. Love the white. Men who can pull off that much white are charming like the prince in shining armour. hee! Do take note, though, its ok to wear airy and slightly baggy clothes but do not wear it loose like its three sizes bigger than what you are. That just makes the whole look sloppy, unrefined and unpolished. Fendi shows a good example here, airy shorts with a fitted and constructed jacket.

DKNY always have very clean lines in their designs and this number is no exception. Love the color, its so light and airy, suitable for summer. And the whole look is so clean and neat that it makes you look at least 5 years younger. It is so school boy inspired that i just love it! I can wear it to school, or to the library or to the museum or maybe that summer lunch date. Check out the ladies' shorts by DKNY too! perfect combination! Shorts with that blouse makes it casually chic and that obi belt just ooozes style!

Or you can just slip these on for that casual lunch date out in town! Its casual and yet refined. This will definitely let you score with your date! Especially when she realises its Bottega Veneta.

And to bring you to the clubs or those late night summer parties, how about decking yourself out in this Roberto Cavalli creation. The darker color makes it more appropriate for partying since the wine or liquor stains won't be that obvious on it! Also, all that dancing won't appear on your outfit as sweat stains.

See, so get your shorts out! DO invest in a tailored and well made pair of shorts especially when you live in Singapore. We have sun all year round! And rain too! Cheers!

Lemony fresh!

What do you think of when summer comes? I know I am reminded of many splendid and cheerful things and one of my favourites would be the freshly squeezed lemonade! yup! nothing quenches the thirst like a glass of ice cold lemonade under the bright soaring sun! If that glass of heavenly soother crosses your mind, well you will love this! It seems another color of choice for this summer season is the lemon yellow! wee! But do note, you have got to be brave to pull off that bright yellow hue. Again, like I have said before, keep it to one piece of item on your body if you don't want people to wear shades and look at you. Just like how it is seen in the Burberry Prorsum knit top paired with that shiny black pants!

or like this yellow Gucci skinny jeans paired with that Black leather bomber jacket for that extra edginess to your style. And word of caution, those of you who are not really blessed with skinny legs or remotely proportionate legs, do avoid skinny jeans especially bright colored skinny jeans that just screams, "look at me!" Those extremely skinny legs dont deserve the skinny jeans too! You will just look like one stick walking by or even worse like one of those young ah bengs or mats slacking around at the cheap malls!

And if you wanna stay in trend but not so adventurous in your color pallete, stick to little items like these neon yellow shoes by Allessandro Dell'Acqua. They are sure to have everyone bowing down to them.

If all that attention is too much for you, go for a subtle yellow like these adorable collections by Etro. The patterened shirts tones the yellow down. Patterns are in especially flowers for this summer! (that will be another entry altogether!)

And those etro shorts are so for the beach. Forget the board shorts, board shorts are so like last summer. Shorts are the new thing right now. (which will also be like another whole entry!)

Summer is all about the outdoors and the beach so do go out and have fun BUT do still look good doing it. Just look at this sexy yellow bathing suit from Gucci that is so the suit of choice for a pool party! And paired it up with that cute black clutch just adds the coctail sophistication! And what's not to love about that cute oversized bow! flirty, sexy, fun and sophisticated, what more can a girl asks for?

If tennis is your game, try these creations from Lacoste! Bright yellow in the summer is definitely a sure way to score this summer! And I am so loving that yellow jersey dress!

Summer or not, we will definitely have cocktail parties and red carpet events and what better way to turn heads and look oh-so-glamorous than to be decked in a yellow like these few pieces. The halter short cocktail dress from Costume National is so apt for summer luncheons and cocktail parties and could even be a great outfit that can bring you from office to clubs. Just add a nice jacket for that office look and all covered up.

This Zac Posen dress sure looks stunning on the red carpet! The ruffles adds movement to the piece which just embodies the essence of summer! So, go ahead and strut your stuff, darling!

Spring and Summer.

While autumn and winter were abit more gloomy in terms of the color pallete, spring and summer is set to shine with its outbursts of color. So, its time to pick up all your bright colours and wear them out. BUT! do be careful as not to overdo yourself. To be save, let's keep the bright colours to one item on your body or use bright colored accessories to spice up your monotone suit. Its all about bright colors this season especially blue. Blue is everywhere! From shoes to bags to belts to scarves to ties to dresses to shirts to jackets. You name it, they have it. You can pretty much see blue walking down the runway in almost every major show such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sanders, Bottega Veneta and much more. And, its not just limited to the ever loved baby blue, you can various blues from all the shades. So, time to own a couple of blue pieces in the wardrobe now. Have a look at some blue-tastic items.

Leather Carry-all By Bottega Veneta

Burberry Prorsum From the menswear and ready-to-wear collection.

Jil Sanders menswear collection. Pair your shorts with a light colored jacket for that casual yet chic look for the summer. Perfect for that sunday out in town.

Louis Vuitton Menswear and Ready-to-wear collection.

Tailored suit never goes out of style and Leather slip ons adds casual sophistication to any outfit. Both by Prada.

YSL ready-wear-collection.

So, seeing blue already?

The Ultimate Super Male Model!

Marcus Schkenburg is definitely the ultimate male model. He is the first male model to ever walk the runways and definitely an icon in the modelling world. And, he is still in great shape at the age of 39! what a shame to the rest of us! haha! i so need to hit the gym! His recent appearance? The Singapore Fashion festival 2008 held recently at The Tent outside of Ngee Ann City, Takashimaya, Singapore.

This annual event features local, regional and international designers like Ashley Isham, Ritu Kumar, Matthew Williamson and Francis Cheong just to name a few. Well, even though it has not reached the glamorous status of the likes of the fashion weeks in New York, Milan and London, it definitely is getting recognition by Singaporeans and our neighbours!

Cheers to Singapore Fashion Festival 2008 and hope for a better Festival next year!

The Suit - The New Tailoring

Now, the suit has been around for ages just like the tunics have and like the tunics, the suit has evolved in many variations that suit the modern not only men, but women as well. The world is changing and so are the cuts and designs of the suits. But one thing that one might realise - women are the new men! yes! man's suits are more feminine while the ladies' apparels are injected with masculinity, like this ladies' suit by Topshop. (who says I only feature big names here?)

Do you know that the original man's suit of clothes is a garment, originated in England, that is crafted from the same cloth? Yup, and the English word suit derives from the French suivre, "to follow", i.e. trousers and waistcoat follow the coat's cloth and colour.

A man's suit of clothes comprises;

• coat
• dress shirt
• trousers
• necktie (optional)
• wasitcoat(optional)

Its variants, lounge suit, business suit, three-piece suit, and two-piece suit denote garments the design, cut, and cloth of which determine their social and work suitability. Generally, the man's suit of clothes comprises the suit, itself, a collared shirt, necktie, and a hat. Yet, throughout the 20th century, the hat fell from the mainstream of men's fashion, to the purview of the dandy. (i love my dandy! thanks to them, we have nicer clothes! )
Originally, as with most all clothes, a tailor crafted the suit from his client's selected cloth, i.e. "bespoke". The said suit was custom made to the measure, taste, and style of the man. Yet, since the Industrial Revolution, most suits are produced en masse, and, as such, are sold as "off-the-peg", "off-the-rack", garments. Currently, there are two modes for a man to be suited, the original, crafted, bespoke mode, and the made to measure mode. (to simplify things) The former is best for proper fit and function, involving, as it does, the creation of a garment from scratch entirely for the client; the latter variant features an off-the-peg design manufactured to match the individual's measurements. (thanks wikipedia.com for that history)

Dozens of things have changed with the suit. In fact, quite a number of suits nowadays do not adhere to the original definition of suits. The trend of it being worn with a hat is coming back. In fact, wearing of hats is definitely coming back again especially for spring '08. How it get back to becoming so the next accessory? Well, thank Mr. Sexyback then!

While most suits can be categorised in four conventional variants such as the British suit, the Italian suit, the American suit and the Double breasted suit, there are those that we just have to place under the Contemporary suit category. The four conventional variations of a suit tend to stick to the boardroom and meetings and black tie party. Even though it has seen a couple of changes to it in terms of colour and materials, it still sticks to the fundamentals of a suit, and thus, just remains a classic.

The contemporary suit are the ones that is really the talk of the town. Yes, the suits are more bold in terms of colour, more experimental in terms of fabric and prints, more casual in its stylings and still pushes the boundaries of tailoring. It has definitely become a new way of tailoring. Take this Dolce & Gabbana suit as an example, it doesn't use the usual bespoke materials. its all velvet! so luxurios! Substitute the velvet with normal cotton and what have you, and you will get your conventional suit! hehe! Just a tiny thing can do wonders!

And, also look at this creation by Dior Homme, the play of different fabrics and tailoring creates a unique look for this otherwise conventional double breasted suit! Its classy and sophisticated and yet, sets you apart as being the more style-savvy individual! (I so love dior homme!)

The choice of colors and patterns too have taken a different route. Its no longer a solid color or block motif. The suits are now pretty much divided into various standalone pieces that makes it more versatile as it can be mixed and match. And yet, some of it attains that very distinctive and almost surreal kinda cut to it as seen in this Burberry Prosum number. I love the black lining which creates that very structured look for the jacket. (and notice the lapels and collar? awesome, right?)

And the suits are tailored to be more casual now. Something that is more suitable for like a day out or a casual lunch with business partners or a lunch party with friends. And such, more pastel and calm colors are chosen like this baby blue and biege suit by Louis Vuitton! The sandals adds to the relaxed feel of the suit. Definitely something you can consider for a chich beach party! You don't have to go for the white suit thing or the flowy tops for a resort chich look no more. That is so last season.

And yet, black still prevails in the modern suit but its not always worn with a collared shirt. Like this Calvin Klein suit for example. The all black ensemble creates a more serious and sophisticated look but the t-shirt injects a little bit of casualness while the white shoes makes it fashonably stylish.

And of course, the reason for the rise of the contemporary suit is pretty much due to the evolution of the ladies' suits. You see, ladies suits have always had more leniency in terms of cut, silhoutte, color and fabrics. And thus, it has propelled the men's suit into an explosion of change. Having said that, the ladies' suit too goes through changes with times. It too has evolved. Just look at this two creations by Prada and YSL.

So, start investing in a suit for yourself! And oh, all the designs shown here are from the Spring/ Summer 2008 Collection by the various designers! So, look out for them in stores now!

Tunic

Did you know that our everyday tunic that you see in places like BYSI, Mango and all the other fashion labels, actually dates all the way back to the greek times? me neither until i read up about tunic a couple of days ago, (thanks to that certain someone! hehe!). In fact, the tunic was a garment most commonly worn by males in Greco-Roman civilizations It was worn by citizens and non-citizens alike; citizens, though, would wear it under the toga, especially at formal occasions. The length of the garment, the presence or lack of stripes, as well as their width and ornamentation, would indicate the wearer's status in Roman society. Soldiers, slaves and manual workers generally had tunics to a little above the knee; those in more sedentary occupations to about the ankle (unless they were expecting to ride a horse, when a shorter one would be worn).

courtesy of wikipedia.com

Even though, it is still worn by men in the modern times in the context of religion and uniform, it has evolved into a more stylish and fashionable master piece that everyone should have in their wardrobes. (read, i said should not must!) you can almost find it everywhere! it has become like a staple in any lady's wardrobe. but BEWARE, finding the right one for you might be slightly tricky!

the good thing about the tunic is that it compliments 'almost' all body shapes, although you need to know how to wear it. you can wear the tunic on its own especially those that ends half way between the thighs and knee. that is suitable for petite ladies. look at this Betsey Johnson creation. (get it at betseyjohnson.com)

and for those who really have long torso as to their legs, you can opt for a shorter tunic top which you can pair with things like jeans as seen by this zarmina collection (can find it at zarmina.com)

or you can wear them with leggings or full on stockings as seen in the Darimeya designs to achieve that very casual and chic look. suitable for a stop to the nearest shopping mall.

Now, after all the appreciation of tunics, I have to admit that some tunics are simply damn dead ugly for the fact that they look like sacks! totally unflattering to the body shape. like this particular one by Miumiu. the only thing i like about it is the bold red colour!

fortunately, there has been nicer versions of the tunic especially the Darimeya one which was spotted on kate moss.(the one that you saw above) or the Yumi Crochet tunic worn by Sienna Miller.

Well, tunic won't be the latest fashion trend nor will it be super big, but its versatility for the everyday women for the everyday wear makes it a popular choice for today's busy women. tunic has been around for ages but it just wont go away. so let's hope, the ugly tunics are banished to make way for the more modern and refined tunics! so, choose well, ladies!