DUNIA FASHyON

The green lives on...

2012-01-29T19:18:00.000+04:00

Are you sensing that lately my entries are about colours? Good. Green has been another shade that I have been keen to try on lately. Previously a hue that I find a bit too tricky to manipulate now I might safely say it is quite a colour that surprisingly can be quite easy on the eyes. Yes, if you think there are too many colours in one outfit feel free to dissect one greenish tint at a time, and wear a piece one by one at your own discretion!

On me are several pieces, in addition, that I think have a slight military feel - those green khaki pants from Topman, the Sanders shoes, the Peter Pilotto x Kipling bucket bag; and a tinge of sea foam green in the Balenciaga t-shirt. And the look is completed with a light brown blazer from Zara and socks from Uniqlo.

Pastel is the way to go

2012-01-24T19:43:00.000+04:00

Sometimes I get to dress a little outside from my personal norm of cheap baggy work shirts, and equally inferior-quality trousers, the majority from hand-me-downs. This time around for the long weekend I could not say no to the opportunity of being a bit crazy, outfit-wise.

I walked around Jalan Telawi at Bangsar area recently in the search of good food and to bring around my friend who came all the way from Kelantan. Instead, what I got was more of staring eyes, perhaps I suspect, at my arrow print jeans and perhaps the light yellow socks peeking out from the denim flood pants. But it is all fine by me, because the pastel/ faded hue that I try to don every now and then has finally got what it deserves here...

A posterior view of the customised lady's cotton blazer from H&M. I cringe at the thought of having too bravely chopping off the originally long-sleeved blazer. Now it looks more like a matronly garment rather than a youngster's top.

These Sanders are a new addition to my slowly expanding footwear collection. A British label harking back to 1873, I personally adore the simplistic (classic) design the label exudes, and they don't cost as much as the growingly commercial Church's. And from the website I had came to know that the shoes I bought are from the Jack model. Oh after looking at the price on-line and I'm quite relieved that I was not overly charged for these shoes, which I bought at The Denim Store in Singapore's Mandarin Gallery.

The relatively affordable price tag on-line means possible purchase via the Internet, but alas the rather steep shipping fee again deters me from doing so. Perhaps this retailer should follow the footsteps of LN-CC's wallet-friendly strategy of exempting delivery fees.

Wearing H&M customised blazer, B.U.M undershirt, thrifted arrow print pants from Chic POP, Uniqlo socks, Sanders shoes, Celine bag, D&aG watch

The JPO experience - Burberry outlet

2012-01-15T16:56:00.000+04:00

image credit: JPO website

It's definitely a bit too late for this entry as I believe most of Johor Bahru folk and even Malaysian Peninsular citizen, who are slaves for luxury labels for less (shamefully I am apparently in that category) have probably heard about the opening of Johor Premium Outlets, purportedly to be the first in South East Asian country (yes, with the Prime Minister visit and all that brouhaha).

For those who might still be wondering, the outlet roughly is like the ones they have in Europe (Bicester Village in England and La Vallee in Paris if I took a lazy analogy). Similarly in concept the place boasts an outdoor shopping experience of discounted off-season items, be it apparel, accessories, luggage or even home furnishings.

I for one had the opportunity to visit the place recently. Travelling by car the location is not very difficult to find - it perches just next to the PLUS highway heading to Kulaijaya. And coming after the Christmas/New Year period definitely had its perk - I did hear about the dreadfully long queue outside Burberry and Armani outlets during the holidays...

The list of shops go quite extensively here, covering both womenswear and menswear. For the gentlemen among the highlights are the tailoring heavyweights including Canali, Armani, Brooks Brothers and Versace (both stores opening soon), Ermenigeldo Zegna and of course Burberry.

Quite naturally Burberry (the only outlet with two floors) has this inexplicable aura of attraction with visitors lining up outside, all because of the tight security control at the door, in order to ensure a quality shopping experience I believe. Or otherwise the staff might be overwhelmed by the throng of customers who most likely will peruse instead of doing a 'real' purchase (judging from the customers demographics who will bring along babies and perhaps their niece and nephews as well?) Shoot me all you want but I don't think shopping outlets, or even malls is the place for children small enough they virtually need a stroller to move around in...

But anyway, amazingly most of the items in Burberry are half-priced, including from the ever-so-directional Prorsum line. This also means one thing - a purchase from the collection (which I will write about later). Do I hear post-Christmas overspending?????

The white cupboard

2012-01-08T03:36:00.000+04:00

I admit, I skimp tremendously when it comes to buying furniture. To me what difference does it make whether solid mahogany or shoddy plywood in making the compartments of my wardrobe? All I need is basically a storage cabinet which can actually, err, store my personal items. Plus I'm always a big fan of recycling, from reusing hand-me-down chairs given by a cousin or still keeping that tatty rattan lounge chair in my room. This tendency is rather inherited - all thanks to my mother who obsessively recycles and reuses wonderfully crappy objects in the house.

That being said, probably most of you would have known how major Maison Martin Margiela headquarter in Paris is - purportedly all the furniture of the premise is vintage/ secondhand, reworked and all painted in white to give uniformity. And I was telling my inner cheapskate self "Get inspired by this, ya foolz"!

Trompe l'oeil effect doors at Margiela HQ

The dominantly white interior of the meeting room - anything but contrived.

My version of wardrobe.

Thus I've attempted to give my wardrobe a new lease of life by spray-painting it white. The story behind the six-door cupboard with multiple compartments is a rather nostalgic one - my mother bought the set after her wedding (which was almost 30 years ago), and it continues to serve its function in my bedroom till this very day. The insides of the wardrobe have kept and hung different clothing items of various members of the house- from my father's regal military uniforms (yes, my pop was in the army) to my mother's delicate velvety tops. Today the wardrobe is used mainly to store my chaotic mishmash of outfits, which are not unusually non-cohesive in style.

The surface of the furniture is laminated with Formica, and I thought that that is a bit too tricky for ordinary wood paint to work on, thus my choice of spray-painting it.

It took me 7 cans of white spray paint, 3 hours to complete, 2 numb thumbs from incessantly pressing the spray, and an angry father who was in his wrath after looking at the dust-covered floor (an expected by-product of spray paint)...

And did I tell you being in the military service has somehow turned him into an obsessive case for tidiness and cleanliness?

Painted white the details actually stans out more and admirably cute. Just look at the dainty curls, but not overly humongous to prevent it looking overly feminine. How I simply love OLD objects because of details like this!

And now the converted wardrobe joins a similarly white-painted writing desk and chair on the other side of my room.

I must say I did not spend much moolah on this project. And I'm probably saying this in the most capitalistic tone ever - the cash that I've saved most likely will be channeled to more and more clothes!

Looking back at 2011...

2012-01-02T15:20:00.000+04:00

Nothing particularly significant has occurred in my life in 2011, except for few key moments - completing internship without much obstacles, a trip to Paris and having the opportunity to attend comme des Garcons FW 2011 presentation, and that's about it.

Shopping surprisingly is not the one thing that really gave an impact to me - previously I am very much enthusiastic in things that I bought but, recently, the situation has changed. Too many shoes and too little tailored items maybe? Or perhaps I have reached that level of satiety the only cure is maybe by controlling my expenditure. I think less quantity but more on quality, which might be the appropriate motto to live by in 2012.

Wearing Mexx cardigan, Balenciaga t-shirt, Cheap Monday jeans, vintage woven leather shoes, Celine Bi-Cabas bag

NYE this year was quite dully celebrated roaming around Bangsar Village II ogling at random Lego exhibition, and catering for my sweet tooth at a cafe/bakery.

A happy new year to dear Dunia Fashyon readers, and to a year of more mature wardrobe building!

This is my dream - Yohji Yamamoto

2012-01-02T05:20:00.000+04:00

I am always fascinated by Yohji Yamamoto's mysterious profile. I wonder why his creations are ever so emotionally intense, unpredictable and slightly morbid. And timeless, not to forget. Fortunately there is a chance for fashion outsiders like me to see and perhaps appreciate the intriguing personality of the celebrated yet low-key designer. Maybe the short documentary will finally answer my burning questions...

"I have my own judge in me, and he's always judging me"

A Box from LN-CC

2011-12-25T12:03:00.000+04:00

The wonderfully efficient online boutique LN-CC has shipped my order within merely 3 days! Imagine a parcel traveling half the globe within that short period of time? Honestly I think they have a really clever marketing strategy because I'm looking forward for another purchase from this London-based company, all thanks to the speedy delivery...

Even the box comes with a fine little detail - a drawer handle can't look any more adorable than this braided strings.

What did I order you may ask? Not to mention I was taking advantage of the free shipping and heavy discount on few select items, and it turned out some of them are within my reach financially. And of course I had to take the opportunity to sample on things from interesting labels that I have been eying on for quite some time...

Ayame socks, a Japanese label founded in 2007 by Aya Agaoka.

These woven cotton-nylon mix socks are from their S/S 2011 collection.

I also managed to snag a printed tee from Balenciaga at almost 70% off the retail price. I'm grinning widely as I typed this...

Also a piece from S/S 2011, the tee shirt has a rather intriguingly odd print, which to me comes off as retro/futuristic-looking.

Very very excited to wear the above items with all the colours and interesting combo possibilities they might conjure.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Shoe polishing tips...

2011-12-24T05:48:00.003+04:00

You would probably have guessed by now that I'm a shoe-phile/shoe-holic/shoe fetishist/insert other obsessive-related adjectives. Over the years I have amassed quite a sizable amount of footwear composed of leather and consequently these babies (yes, I'm that delirious) need to be taken care of and buffed appropriately.

Trust me, what I did was anything but properly take care of the shoes, which means the most that I do usually is just dust off any dirt or dust with a rag cloth. Not until recently I have managed to find ample time for myself, sit down and properly clean/cream/shine my footwear collection...

Polishing shoes is actually quite a simple task and not as daunting I thought it could be. With a few simple repetitive steps your leather kicks could look brand new all over again. Let me share with you my personal tips of the art of taking care of shoes.

Step 1: First and foremost remove the shoe laces so we can actually reach the eyelet area to be cleaned.

Step 2: Wipe/brush off any dirt and dust. Use a toothbrush to remove that stubborn dirt hiding away in the nook and crannies of your shoes.

Step 3: Apply a thin coat of shoe cream onto the leather. Here I use a product from Woly, a German label which is quite good and affordable as well. Leave the cream on for 10-15 minutes.

Step 4: Start polishing the shoes with a brush - in this case I use a horse hair brush. And during this step you will notice the leather to be shinier.

Step 5 (optional): If you want, you could add an additional layer of wax just to provide that extra protection from humidity. But this intriguingly will matte down the previous shiny effect from the cream, I'm afraid.

Now you can bring out your shoes to the Christmas party / dinner and even on the dance floor...

P/S: After posting this entry I found this shoe care thread in styleforum. It is very informative, with self-experimentation tips to get that mirror effect on your shoes, polish versus wax etc.

Happy holidays, dear readers!

Cause it's D-A-M-A-G-E-D

2011-12-20T21:04:00.002+04:00

Whether I like it or not I have to wear my roach aftermath tee shirt anyway, because no amount of repair can give the shirt justice (unless, of course, if I had someone like the late François Lesage at my disposal, covering the holes with ethereal embroidery).

Instead I chose to don it out, whilst perusing furniture at IKEA of all places. Don't we all love a bit of generic 'designer' and most importantly VERY affordable furniture from Sweden... well, designed in Sweden at least?

I have (brilliantly) decided to hide those atrocious holes underneath a new mustard Uniqlo cardigan, deliciously knit in fine merino wool, and the best part is, it was on sale. An autumnal color combo I've decided to style it in - paired together with this marronish/purplish cotton trousers, also from Uniqlo, which I bought in Singapore almost a year ago.

Uniqlo cardigan and pants, Christopher Kane cosmic print t-shirt, eBay belt, vintage brogues, Celine bag

The most I appropriate song for this entry is none other than Danity Kane's Damaged...(mourning my Christopher Kane, of course).

Roaches ate my Christopher Kane!

2011-12-19T05:06:00.001+04:00

This entry deserves a hell lot of bold and exclamation marks because it's true, boys and girls!!!

The damned pest, notorious for lurking in narrow crevices and striking in pitch dark apparently has been staying in my closet since God knows when!!!

And they have decided to nibble my Christopher Kane SS2011 cosmic print t-shirt!!!

I don't believe it I hear you say? Have a look for yourself...

I could imagine hearing those tiny but strong labial palp gnawing away this delicate modal fabric...

And the best part is, the insect has decided to place a bite at one of the most beautiful galactic sections on the shirt.

And as I wear it the holes are inevitably getting wider and wider!!!

The thought of these pest consuming my another Kane treasure is virtually unfathomable...

It's all too little too late. The damage has been done.

P/S: Curbing the infestation using the old method (boric acid crystals) might seem like the only way to put a stop to the cockroaches.

Versace for H&M cruise collection 2012

2011-12-16T21:45:00.002+04:00

And so, this year's biggest high/low collaboration has been extended to a cruise collection! Looking at the latest images makes me like their previous autumn/winter assemble less and less (except for that wonderfully gaudy Hawaiian print shirt which is the only piece that I wanted to acquire from the collection, BUT are unquestionably sold out).

On the other hand, next season Versace x HM partnership entices the guys with a less showy, and perhaps a more built-together wardrobe, with monochromatic colors like blue, white and black dominating the entire collection. These are the items that I like from the preview images...

Denim shirt with Versace's ubiquitous meander pattern (also known as Greek key pattern) - suitably apt for a casual/semi-formal mix on a lazy Sunday afternoon, reading a book on history of Greek art, perhaps.

The white equivalent of similar design is a more formal option - a wedding reception in a hotel, maybe? (I always visualise all things formal has to be a themed hotel-related occasion, blame it on my middle-class mentality...)

The shorts section similarly offers tailored/casual options. I don't really wear shorts but if I was born with a tall lithe figure in the next karma I'd wear these any time of the day...

In addition, the collection also attempts to lure gentlemen with loungewear, which comes in the form of this silky-looking robe, again with the Meander pattern (in a more ostentatious way, of course).

The accessory department otherwise reverbrates with the sheer luxury excess very familiar to Versace. I don't really fancy them, but I would snap up these had I been a label-hungry university student with cash to burn (gone were the days of excess indulgences on Italian labels).

Tell me, which item(s) do you like?

Images via Hypebeast

An adventure in tailoring

2011-12-05T10:18:00.001+04:00

My personal pioneer adventure in tailoring begins with the construction of a sadly looking oriental costume (or so I deem, as I'm lacking an appropriate name for this suit), which was a fruit of labor of a single simplistic trip to a nearby tailor.

It all began with an invitation from an ex-classmate who was getting married in a five-star hotel, and from the looks of it, the reception would going to be a rather glamourous event - stated in the invitation was the dress code revolving around something I recall as "Red Carpet Glam" and "Oriental Chic".
As I stood down reading the golden leaflet, my mind was scrambling for a suitable wardrobe option for the event. I took a glance into my closet and let out a sigh of disappointment. Nothing is fitting enough to be worn at the event, I thought. The most tailored (i.e formal) clothing items that I possessed are a slew of blazers, not suits, mind you - mostly too casual or too ill-fitting for any wedding event. The rest of the cupboard is filled with stacks of worn out denim with heaps of shirts and tee shirts tripling the latter in amount. And lastly, I looked at the rows of shoes underneath my bed, mostly overtly expensive yet minimally worn.

I should have spent a bit more on tailoring, I began blaming myself...

Suddenly I thought of a roll of saree fabric that I acquired from a friend who bought it in India (the prospect of 'authenticity' simply turns me on). I remember the fabric being ink black and shiny with amazingly beautiful golden brocades (although merely machine-made I suspect). Despite the fact that it is a feminine fabric by right, I thought I could have gotten away by making it more 'guy-friendly' by turning it into a costume, which, ultimately could serve as the scapegoat for my wardrobe dilemma...

Consequently, a trip to a tailor could not be more essential that time. Having a limited budget in my pocket (as I'm saving for yet another pair of overpriced shoes) I immediately thought of the local tailor which is less than a kilometre away from my home. What's the name of the tailor's place I hear you ask? It is called Pamili. It's essentially a business run by a team of Indonesian workers (my neighbourhood area is a melting pot of Indonesian immigrants, namely from Minangkabau).

So I brought the 'precious' roll of fabric to the tailor in-charge, and started to explain my vision, what I'd like my suit to look like - basically I requested for:
1) A mandarin collar with hidden buttons
2) The brocade to be featured at the back and and as the trimmings
3) The silhouette to be rather slim-fitting
4) The trousers to be of carrot cut shape

Only requests nos. 1 and 2 were diligently fulfilled. But where's the slim fit? Where's my carrot cut trousers?

It all got lost in translation I suppose. Admittedly I had a hard time explaining the terms in Malay and the guy had difficulty in understanding English tailoring terms. Words like 'carrot cut' or 'tapered' or 'slim fit' or even 'mandarin collar' invited a perplexed look from the tailor. This eventually lead to the suit's rather odd and unbalanced silhouette.

But please don't get me wrong. I should not be complaining much when the tailoring costs me a reasonable RM100 (that's less than GBP20)! And then again, it is partially my mistake trying to be extremely ambitious with such a flimsy, billowy fabric and expecting an outstandingly looking costume... Or perhaps I should have requested a lining to balance the diaphanous fabric.

Nevertheless I'm definitely optimistic in Pamili tailor and I'm looking forward for further experimentation in custom made clothing, perhaps in the near future.

I'm smiling on the outside but crying from the inside. The flimsiness of the fabric is evident by the fact that my undershirt is obvious. Further issues that make me feel unhappy about the outcome is the candid shininess which does not sit too well with the silhouette. Furthermore the additional pleating (if you look closely, running from both sides of my torso) only further distorts the fabric.

From the side the whole look is more appealing. Okay, I cheated. I did pull down the shirt a bit and put my hands in the pockets in order to produce a 'snug effect'. I'm replicating the overall sheen with the equally shiny Lanvin clogs (please take note they are part of my exorbitantly priced shoe collection).

The exquisite golden thread brocade up-close (never mind it being machine-made).

Walking towards my limousine ( who am I kidding ha ha!)

Substituting Prada brogues

2011-11-15T07:09:00.001+04:00

My sole internet connection (that shoddy uMobile plug-in USB kind) has turned its back on me by reaching its measly quota. And you probably know what that means - a pathetic slower-than-snail speed that is literally only apt for loading text-based pages!

So basically I'm typing this post from a nearby cyber cafe, where adolescents who just reached puberty enjoy surfing Youtube for that latest Malay song hits...

But anyways, I thought that I'm sharing this - my previous jaunt to Singapore yielded a new pair of footwear from Comme des Garcons SS2011 that is hopefully going to be my reliable next height-enhancing shoes after the Prada elevated brogues...

To me this platform version, compared to Prada's ones which are more exuberant and perhaps showier, is comparatively quieter and has its own playful / quirky feel that Japanese designers like Rei Kawakubo often exude...

The shoes possess an intriguing look complimented by the textural calf-leather with brogueing, and finished off with the sturdy and reliable rubber Vibram sole.

I'm not exaggerating when I say the shoes might come in handy especially during our monsoon season... I've already got away from the small potholes on the streets from soaking my pants, all thanks to the additional inch from the platforms, and thankfully I don't have to worry so much about ruining the sole, unlike the Prada SS11 ones...

Wearing Incubus cardigan, Uniqlo breton-stripe tee, custom-tailored Guess jeans, accessorised with a brooch and bracelet from Topman, and belt from eBay, Muji socks and Comme des Garcons shoes.

Is it aquamarine?

2011-11-08T07:36:00.001+04:00

I always like COS (a more high-end, H&M sister brand) lookbook images. The clothes look simple, clean and finely-tailored. And the rather mannequin-like pose of the models serve a good view of the clothes on a person.

Not to mention the occasional pop of colours in every collection that makes me crave for the pieces even more. In this case, COS has released its Spring Summer 2012 lookbook and there's a particular shade of green that instantaneously caught my attention... a shade that my limited vocabulary cannot describe.

Is it sea green? Is it aquamarine? Well, perhaps a research for colour codes is warranted. Or perhaps simply coding the hue as COS SS12 is much reliable to remember?

Great great procurements

2011-11-03T20:24:00.000+04:00

What I'm about to discuss is perhaps bordering on pure consumerism but have you ever liked that one thing and wished you could purchase it right away? That you probably like it so bad you return to the shop over and over again to take a look at that item, and you still can't shake the image off your mind?

Well, I really love the Christopher Kane SS12 t-shirt that I have previously blogged about here. And I always return to the only store that stocks it (Musa, that is) just to have a look at it over and over again, but somehow took one step back after seeing its price tag.

Technically I did not acquire the oriental motif-laden shirt straight away at its original price (which obviously might well break my bank account instantly), but fortunately Musa has generously reduced the delicate t-shirt price considerably to the point that even my generally middle-class income could purchase this treasured piece....

The undeniably intriguing print has knocked my off my feet... Until now I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out what those both creatures really are... The top one looks like an eagle / fish hybrid, and the other resembles a rooster / dragon methinks. And the overall oriental feel reminds me of those Japanese / Chinese paintings as well.

The 'fortunate' purchase does not just stop at that. Another item that I will most likely cherish even a few seasons after is this Comme des Garcons neon clutch, also procured from recent Musa sales... Produced in soft calf leather, doesn't the blindingly bright hue remind you of those Swan Stabilo highlighter pens that we have always used during the high school/ university days? Those highlighters really helped me a lot with my last-minute cramping session for the exams to tell you the truth!

Wearing the Christopher Kane t-shirt and Comme des Garcons clutch with Zara pants and blazer, Lacoste shoes, sunglasses from eBay.

The architectural mosque

2011-11-02T07:48:00.000+04:00

I won't pretend that I know a single thing about architecture, design and art form but I personally love anything that is visually and aesthetically pleasing... and to see such a rare heritage building in a sea of awkwardly designed, commercial and pretentious skyscrapers always makes my jaw drop to the floor.

It's time for that (mildly) architectural buff in me to present to you this ah-mazingness of design genius that is the Sultan Sulaiman Mosque in Klang, built in the 1930s by the British.

Google has yielded a mixed results of information behind the design influences of this place of worship. A supposedly reliable website (Arkib Negara, ehem) says it is of Moghul influence. And the other, randomly-edited, free-for-all portal that is Wikipedia seemingly has a more accurate description citing Art Deco and Neoclassical as its main architectural influence.

Moghul? What Moghul? I think the writer has mistaken it for some other building...

The important persons who officiated the mosque back in 1932

The wrought-iron gate somehow reminds me of Parisian Metropolitain entrances
The beautiful dome, complete with stained glass...

The stained glass feature is very interesting, given that not many mosques in Malaysia contains such decoration. In fact I always attribute it to a church. Looking back to history though the Syrians have perfected the art of stained glass in the 8th century for decoration of small items, and at around the period the West has also incorporate the idea in their churches...

Print in the royal park

2011-11-01T05:20:00.001+04:00

It is indeed a very rare occasion for me personally to have a walk in the park, especially with the current monsoon season which means one thing - muddy terrain just waiting to stain your weather inappropriate shoes (no, we don't wear Wellington boots if it's raining in this part of this world if you're wondering). Or is it the mall culture in me too strong to let a bit of nature-bound walk have its way?

Either way I managed to have a record-breaking TWO park-related trips last week alone. And for this trip I had a saunter in Klang's Royal Park... Nothing fancy there though as opposed to what its name suggests, nothing is too regal there except the fact that it is surrounded by Klang's royal residential area including the palace itself.

And coming back from a good friend brother's wedding reception earlier I had this dark-colored shirt with zany prints on from Gap. I don't remember the last time I bought from this basics-focused label, and they rarely do anything interesting in the prints department, except for this pair of boxers with Dries-like print.

The whole look feels autumn-y to me (or to my fantasies at least) - when your current residential climate is the usual too-hot-or-too-wet, an escapist idea sometimes come in handy ha ha!

Deep and bold colours when combined strategically can yield a possibly stunning vision. I personally like the dark blue of the loafers with the mustard socks, and further combined with the hunter green of the thick, almost velvet-y trousers. And of course, my trustee grey slouchy leather envelope clutch is always there to carry my wallet, Blackberry and point-and-shoot...

Gap shirt, Topman trousers, Zara loafers, Uniqlo socks, vintage leather clutch from eBay

Being Muji-fied in capono

2011-10-16T13:19:00.001+04:00

Some items in my wardrobe are so out of my character sometimes I question why I purchased them in the first place. Case in point - this kimono-esque wrap from Muji, a no-fuss low-key and almost anti-fashion Japanese lifestyle label. (Did you know Singapore has 2 Muji outlets? You did? GOOD!)

Originally for ladies (as half of my clothing items are), worn insouciantly this cape/kimono/ jacket thing can be a great sprucing-up item completing the 'look'. Yes, like when I wore it to the Hanger Mag party last time.

And sometimes I'd like to torture my crotch with this shorts-over-pants look.

From certain angles this jacket / kimono thing really looks like a cape! So I'm announcing it as capono (cape + kimono)

And wrapped around snugly the capono can look a bit 'edgy' I think.

And another item from Muji are these foam sandals, which I got half-priced during my recent Singapore jaunt.

Wearing Muji kimono/ wrap, thrifted tee, Mini For Many shorts, Topshop harem pants, Muji sandals.

Have a good weekend!

Crisp white shirt is the answer

2011-10-13T01:23:00.003+04:00

Sometimes I switch from my rather 'busy' outfit to having a simple one whilst window shopping. I think this helps a lot, especially in our tropical climate which does not really allow for multiple layering and such.

It is also rather convenient to have basic clothing on so to facilitate a trip to the dressing room...

Mexx mandarin-collared white shirt, Topman khaki trousers, Lacoste plimsolls, Celine Bi-cabas

On another unrelated note I thank Syazwan Rosman for diligently taking my outfit photos, and have that bit of patience with a rather fussy me. Loving that Peter Jensen SS2010 Watermelon Bag on you!

Brothel ceepers virgin

2011-10-11T05:37:00.000+04:00

My annual jaunt to the Lion City is for the purpose of unwinding and a little bit of retail therapy. A much superior shopping destination than the capitals of Malaysia combined, Singapore's Orchard Road never ceases to entice my already submissive consciousness to spend a wee bit more.

It's even enticing when luxury retail big guns like Club 21 bring all the good labels - we all know they are the only ones who stock Jil Sander and Dries Van Noten in the region, and their Comme des Garcons outlet is up and running since January this year (more on that later)...

On a much affordable side the Swedish retail giant H&M is already in its full force at Orchard Road since September. The vast white facade was silently persuading us to enter the premise, even though from afar the place is packed up to the brim... But in we went nonetheless.

As I have expected I couldn't find anything great fitting for me. I almost walked away from the counter when I saw a guy getting ready to pay for his items. He was holding these brothel creepers, which apparently were taken from the girls' department, and, ironically, made a last minute decision to let go of them. I knew that that was my calling and we exchanged looks (mine was a drooling / amazed / greedy kind). He generously offered me these shoes, and the inner shoe fetishist in me was more than happy to accept them. Well, don't get me wrong, I have to pay them myself of course...

The faux suede velvet brothel creepers from H&M - in simple design these shoes might be my next footwear of choice for that instant increment in height, giving the brogue / espadrille Prada a much needed rest.

Worn with vintage blouse form Russia, U2 khaki pants, Uniqlo socks, and I went double-bagging (no dirty thoughts please) that day with the Celine lambskin bag to fit in my sister's DSLR and the Kipling x Peter Pilotto bag to keep my wallet, cards and passport.

And the regularly worn plastic watch from Swatch teamed up with bracelet from Topman

Talking about H&M makes me impatient waiting to see their Versace x H&M collab this November. Anything worthwhile for guys?

Too purple to be true

2011-10-10T16:25:00.000+04:00

Whenever I travel I always try to bring clothes that I rarely wear during 'normal' days (did you know I wear bland shirts and reworked old trousers to work?). The reason being I feel rather uneasy to attract unnecessary attention at my workplace, you know, like that bad impression kind of attention. I do not intend to take the risk and possibly further tarnish my somehow feeble reputation at the hospital.

I believe that even a big city like Kuala Lumpur has its reservations towards 'unconventional' clothing, so much so that in order to be 'fashionable' you have to wear something very conformist, safe and ultimately unimaginative. Once I pull out that non-conservative rabbit from the hat and walk around the city's biggest malls, almost immediately I'd get that stare, or sometimes even a whistle or two (the reason being, er, I dress too flamboyantly I suppose?), which somehow demotivates me to further experiment with clothes.

So I have decided to live in my own fantasy world of ridiculous and so-called tacky clothing whenever the time and location permit, for example during the trip to Singapore, of course!

I visited the Universal Studios in an almost top-to-toe purple outfit. Even the fake Marilyn Monroe in that thick American accent gawked in disbelief at my too colourful getup. But ironically the phony Joker from Batman complimented my bright-hued trousers. I personally prefer a darker wash than the current purple, so, I'm thinking to maybe dye them in an indigo blue to make them, well, more blue...

I'm almost blending in with the background, no?

I am wearing cowl-collared shirt from Topman, Miu Miu sleeveless tank, vintage trousers (my father's), Celine Bi-cabas bag, Jil Sander shoes, socks from Happy Socks.

Universal Studios Singapore

2011-10-10T10:14:00.000+04:00

Last week I had an enjoyable trip down to the south to Singapore. The trip was more like a much needed escape from the craziness of our day jobs (oh yes, have I told you that I have finally completed my internship?). We drove straight from Kuala Lumpur and headed to Universal Studios Singapore. The colourful buildings at replicas of New York City, Hollywood and memories from animated hits like Madagascar and Shrek made us giggling like little children over again. This meant that this is a rather image-heavy post, so I apologize if the page loads rather slowly...

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of,

and the signage and typehead heaven...

Also a place where fishery and boating come alive...

Everybody comes to Hollywood...

And Prada SS12 hot car was there to inspire...
Madagascar characters were there to join the fun

Shrek's Far Far Away was impeccably emulated here...

The dangerous stunts at Water World - pyrotechnic, water stunts and theatrics joined hands to produce a mind blowing show
And you should be treating yourselves at this candy tree!

Trussardi Womenswear SS12

2011-10-04T11:20:00.005+04:00

In any field of life conjuring a good first impression is not always an easy task. The same applies to fashion design - in this case, Umit Benan, whose first calling is menswear did quite a brilliant job for Trussardi's womenswear Spring Summer 2012. Considering the fact that this is his first time producing womenswear, brilliant is actually an understatement.

He called his girl "the granddaughter of Annie Hall", in a sense that he smartly applied his forte which is tailoring in this collection. I personally like the slightly oversize and boxy silhouettes of the jackets, the roomy tapered high-waisted trousers and cropped just above the ankle. Well, so much so that I fantasize if I could purchase them and wear the pieces without shame. (It is a recurring issue in Dunia Fashyon that I cannot fit most of tailored MENSWEAR thus I resort to the better-fitting womenswear).

The accessories are not left out as well, as Trussardi is a leather-goods house first and foremost. The models were seen carrying two bags, a long-shoulder-strap style and a weekender or a backpack or a trunk - which again, do not look very out of place on a man.

A very good start Benan, bravo!

Eyeing for Marius Morel

2011-10-04T08:57:00.003+04:00

As you can see in most of the images in my blog the Marc Jacobs spectacles that I wear are almost becoming a constant fix on my nasal bridges, which means that a search for new eyewear is warranted. From then on meticulous and rather picky me has been searching high and low in the quest for the perfect replacement for the weary Marc Jacobs.

An exhaustive search which includes visiting both physical and online shops was leading me almost nowhere. I have been trying the more popular and established brands like the New York-based Moscot and even the Japanese powerhouse Masunaga, thinking that the latter might be the one for me to wear for the next few years.

A handful of factors should be counted in when selecting the best eyewear for you, especially the fit of the bridges. The Masunaga frames that I tried on fit my nasal bridge really well. So I've been told that the Asian company considers physical make-ups of different descendants in the craftsmanship of their frames. In this case my South East Asian nose seemingly fits well with Masunaga's bridge.

The fit and style factors made me like the Masunagas a lot, alas, the usual obstacle hindered me from purchasing them ( i.e a rather steep price) which I can't firmly justify given the ever-tightening of personal budget...

That disappointingly led me to another mall and, fortunately and ultimately I found this beautiful French eyewear label Marius Morel. Created by Jules Morel in 1880, currently the fourth generation of Morel family is managing the internationally expanding company.

"In more than a century of history, Morel has learned how to evolve and manage technological as well as creative changes "

I definitely appreciate the classic model which has a bit of 1950's flavor in these frames that I acquired. Slightly oval in shape, these frames is definitely a fresh companion to my boxy Marc Jacobs spectacles...

Another factor influencing me on this purchase in none other than the relatively affordable price. At Tanjong Opticals (Ground Floor, Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya) the price is virtually unbeatable (I have been comparing the prices online and this is definitely the best bet).

So home I went a happy camper with a new set of 'eyes'....

A need rather than a want - Paul Smith Tri-tone Brogues

2011-09-24T05:24:00.000+04:00

The footwear fever is hardly over, especially for yours truly who have to lug low-quality leather jazz shoes from Zara to work. I wish that one of these days I could muster some gut and insouciantly wear my Prada espadrille brogues to the rounds and miraculously get good remarks from the superiors...

Such is hardly the case when it comes to these very work-friendly (especially in those extra-conservative environments like mine) Paul Smith brogues which have three, yes, THREE tones -black,burgundy and blue. Sounds and looks familiar? They do remind me of the Prada version but obviously sans the espadrille soles. Either way I'm quite confident that they would look good on anybody's feet and furthermore the pricing is much better compared to their Prada counterparts.

With the smart look and just the right amount chunky, these Made in Italy brogues might have the potential to find their way into my shoe cabinet...

Historical Malacca Part 2

2011-09-05T18:24:00.001+04:00

Many people say a trip to Jonker Street, or to any tourist destination in Malaysia generally, is not complete without a taste of their local delicacies. Here I tried a hearty bowl of Assam Laksa (a type of noodle with spicy fish soup) so savory I think I might come over again just for the laksa. Ah, the mere thought of it makes me drool already...

And when it came to shopping, I was very interested in these wooden clogs:

Well, these are miniature ones obviously, which serve as fridge magnets. The vivid colors are simply amazing - reminds me of the colour-blocking trend which is totally on rampage right now...

These mini clogs, on the other hand might be the stimuli getting little girls giggly with the cartoon drawings and all...

But I obviously settled down for the real deal, of course. After walking past a few rows of shophouses I found this shop selling clog shoes. (Don't you love the old-school signage typical of Chinese-owned shops of yesteryears?)

An abundance of wooden clogs were hung for display (does that come out wrong? ha ha). There were a myriad of colors to choose from but I'm sold by these classic red ones...

Questions:

1) Are these the predecessors of the wooden clogs phenomenon?

2) Are these the more affordable (extremely more) of Celine clogs?

3) Should I go for pedicure? Or a shave of my man legs?

Historical Malacca part 1

2011-09-04T13:32:00.000+04:00

A family trip to my father's hometown in Malacca during Eid is definitely enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting my aunts, uncles and their children but at some point I needed to temporarily flee from the madness of extended family's probing questions about my personal life (have you ever get tired of the marriage questions?).

I was so lucky I had my friends who swiftly fetched and drove me to the historical town of Malacca for a quick escape. We headed straight to the UNESCO World Heritage site: Jonker Street.

Since I'm a (mildly) architectural buff visiting Jonker Street is quite a thrilling experience for me visual-wise. It is essentially a Chinese trading area lined with well-preserved shophouses, mostly boasting an intact colonial/ Chinese-influenced architecture.

Fortunately we were there on a Saturday night, where the street is transformed into a lively night market. So basically it was a visually kaleidoscopic orgasm composed of colourful images of shop fronts / foodie galore / trinkets and everything under the sun...

ARCHITECTURE

This area used to be a centre for antique ware but now most shops have been transformed into boutique hotels/ boutiques/ cafes...

A majestic building with gorgeous tapestry which seems like a private property to me...

A lovely cafe/bar which seemly packed with expats and perhaps, sarong party girls?

Another spectacular attraction for design aficionados is the abundance of old signage.
This tailor shop for example had a triple threat with his three different signage...

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TRINKETS

Simple stools with cartoon etchings on them are simply adorable...

These relatively cheap assemble-yourself lights are having a surge in popularity especially in KL... No more bland IKEA designer lamps I suppose?

Plush toys are not spared from being sold here. Can you spot Angry Birds characters in here?

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FOOD

I saw this signage and it immediately intrigued me. Do they sell French-style escargots inside?

And the Malaysian favourite (but the tourists despise them because of the smell I think), the thorny durian, in the form of crispy rolls...

For a better view of Jonker Street, have look here (with photos of the area in daylight)

To be continued...

Peachy perfect

2011-09-04T09:39:00.001+04:00

And it is that time of the year again where families gather and have a celebratory moment over the end of a months' period of fasting! As it has been going for years and years, after the prayers we went to visit the graveyard and then went back straight home.

We as usual seek forgiveness from each other of any wrongdoings for the past year. Then we had joy stuffing our faces with an abundance of food around and typically there was the almost ritual-like family photography moments.

First day of Aidilfitri (Eid Mubarak) I was decked in the old peach Baju Melayu suit and my old 'kain sampin'. I don't buy new Baju Melayu for a few years already!

from top to toe: songkok (a tradisional Malay hat with cheap velvet fabric); Baju Melayu suit, buttoned up with faux diamante buttons; kain sampin - a songket fabric loomed with golden threads, wrapped around like a sarong, which has an almost a kilt-like feel; Rubi cut-out sandals

Happy Eid Mubarak every one!

Parisian doors

2011-08-28T12:19:00.000+04:00

The last Parisian trip (I know I've but harping harping about it endlessly for a number of entries already, I promise this would be the last one) has given me the chance to soak in the true pedestrian vibe by walking past Le Marais neighbourhood and ultimately had the opportunity to capture these photos of Parisian doors, window displays, the facades of cafes restaurants and such...

First up, this beautiful shop front painted in turquoise. The shop is called 'Diwali', which suggestively trades luxurious looking Indian fabrics....

Lomography store front... simple as its street/ teenage- oriented customers.

These red and green doors are located very near together, the colours of which remind me of Christmas...

Muji store (one of their six stores in Paris), tainted with street graffiti, and with the sight of Arman entering the shop hastily, eager to look for what's in store.

Comptoir des Cotonniers, a high-street label selling irresistibly chic Parisian casual wear. If I were a girl I'd definitely check this shop out. Even the simple styling is so interesting.

Ba&sh, a casual line by Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief.

Esteban - a parfumerie house selling scented products in the forms of candles, ceramics, bouquets and the likes...

Cafe culture in Paris usually ends up in the evening, especially during winter time where it's quite impractical to hang out in the cold. But the window displays under bright light is tempting nonetheless...

A muslim butchery. This market is situated very near to Margiela Paris Headquarter...

The entrance over the right was actually leading to our hotel. So you can imagine how tiny the entrance is....

This store with a vast image by Tom of Finland perhaps suggest something pornographic (homo erotica perhaps?) alluring customers to have a peek...

And finally, a rather detailed arch on wrought-iron gate leading to a private property. Eerie looking if you ask me...

Entry number 202

2011-08-18T03:16:00.000+04:00

Yes you read that right! I have reached my two hundred and second entry for Dunia Fashyon. Who would have known that I have managed to perpetuate the existence of my blog this far. And who would have known that my love for fashion has not abated - it only grows stronger.

I'd like to dedicate this celebratory entry to menswear, as it is what the blog is mainly about. So summer is almost ending and here I am musing about Spring/Summer 2011. Ah the pertinent tardiness in me. Anyhow, I just love these wonderful images (but crappily taken by moi) from WFM +Men, a male-mode magazine showcasing runway looks in Milan and Paris for each and every season. I discovered this magazine all in its half-priced glory at my favorite off-season magazine outlet Sun in Sungei Wang.

WFM is a Hong Kong-based company that stocks fashion magazines from womenswear (including bridal-wear and couture) to men's lifestyle mags and even interior designing and far-off subjects like finance. It also publishes more obscure things in fashion that many people might be interested in, but do not have the proper access to - the close-up series. These individual series focus on detailed shots of outerwear, shirts, formal wear, knits, pants and jeans. The coverage itself is simply astounding! But of course then again print publications are having a constant threat by their online counterparts and that is another topic altogether.

Oh, I probably should shut up already and just enjoy the images. The following are my favorite collections this season...

YOHJI YAMAMOTO

THOM BROWNE

RAF SIMONS

ISSEY MIYAKE

DRIES VAN NOTEN

DAMIR DOMA

PRADA

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

MISSONI

The final Uniqlo x Jil Sander collaboration

2011-08-17T11:26:00.000+04:00

I for one am a big fan of retail giants x designer collaborations which give access to the public, allowing good design, tailoring and construction at reasonable price. As many of you would have known the final +J collection will be for the autumn/winter 2011 season. This without question saddens me as I like the collections' crisp white shirts which are impeccable and surprisingly quite nicely tailored. No more talk about getting plenty of bang for the buck after this, I guess...

The final collection, however soothingly ends with an excellent line-up of outerwear. The signature quiet elements of details in the coats, jackets and blazers are evident in this collection. As usual the colors of the pieces are mostly muted, but there is a pop of color or two like the magenta cardigan. The combination of quilted gillet and blazer is also refreshing - had I been in a more temperate climate I might give that look a try.

I reckon all good things come to an end, but the optimism will stay high - the +J collection will later be replaced by Uniqlo's collaboration with Undercover's Jun Takahashi. A very intriguing project indeed...

images via Hypebeast

Pattern bonanza with Limedrop

2011-08-09T00:22:00.004+04:00

I might just sound like a jaded Courts Mammoth promotional Hari Raya flyer, but it's quite difficult for me not to notice this Australian label's bold prints and patterns and practically transform into advertorial mode by yapping about how good their designs look (well, online at least). Such is their trademark that Limedrop's creations has slowly garnering attention from the fashion circuit and it has even graced the back of super blogger Susie Lau from Style Bubble.

Limedrop is an Australian fashion label that captures the imagination and spirit of possibilities. The duo behind the label Clea Garrick and Nathan Price have used clear lines, bold colours, structured pieces and curious proportions peppered with a sense of playful irreverence for their collections...

It is old news that a mixture of prints on garments is just right up my alley. If I had the chance I'd very much like to acquire their Autumn/Winter 2010 offerings in the form of the cumulus prints...

cloud silk Spanish jacket from their Silver Lining collection

...and I should be rejoicing if I could get hold of the beautiful lake scene from Spring/Summer 2011...

Far From Home collection - Summer lake silk twill tuxedo park jacket

For Spring/Summer 2012 they have the similar recipe of using vivid and bold prints, but somehow taking a slightly different direction by producing prints that are not directly related to natural elements...

I have this wishful thinking that someone out there would listen to my prayer and sponsor me one of the sweet jackets 'coz I definitely can't afford them by myself...

Virginal Céline Bi-Cabas

2011-08-07T05:47:00.000+04:00

My yet another substantial purchase might have caused a terrible cavity in my credit account. But that is because Phoebe Philo's creations for Céline are well loved by me and probably hundreds of thousands others. I am stating the obvious here by saying that her minimalist aesthetics has brought a wave of change to the entire womenswear industry this past two to three seasons.

She has defined unequivocal glamour by looks that are more refined with clean and sleek tailoring. The accessories section also took a minimalist nod with Céline's array of decadent bags gradually surpassing the usual suspects like Hermes Birkin or those ubiquitous monogrammed Louis Vuittons with their quiet luxury...

Well, for the more financially-challenged like me I had to wait for the obvious sales season to come by. I was fortunate enough that the model that I'm interested in (the two-tone Bi-Cabas bag) was still available, and it was the last one in the color that I preferred, so basically it was a yes or no dilemma for me...

The extra-smooth yet supple lambskin with fine stitching. I get a buttery soft feeling every time caressing the material... truly a quiet luxury I think. The question is when will Madam Philo design for menswear? Is there even a remote possibility for the label to produce garments for men?

I am wearing a polka-dot ensemble to go with the plain design of the bag. T-shirt from Cliff by The Lightning Thief, polka dot pants from Sungei Wang, Gucci penny loafers.

Speaking about Céline have you heard about their retail space in Dover Street Market? I envy you Londoners out there! I wish I can take a cheap Air Asia flight to London now, just to check out DSM...

Images via Another Magazine

Good shoe news: Prada FW11, AAA Topman x Mr Hare

2011-08-06T11:53:00.000+04:00

The shoe business is getting crazier and crazier what with Christian Louboutin vs YSL red soles trademark litigation (I doubt the importance of trademarks in petty and frivolous issues like soles). At the end of the day we all just need a good and comfortable pair of shoes to dance in... Well, that is the business of fashion for you.

But on a brighter note there is a cheery news that might excite men's footwear lovers out there: a) Prada is releasing their popular brogues/espadrilles combo this fall, b) Mr Hare is having a collabo with Topman...

For a shoe fanatic like me it is a rather joyous news to hear that the company is extending the famed part espadrille-soled / part rubber-soled brogues in the form of brown or dark blue polished leather this autumn. This time around the soles are much higher and in fact imitate the height of the brogues from SS11 runway (they disappointingly abandoned the height and on the contrary had much thinner soles for production last season). This is great news especially for a vertically-challenged me. But then again I bought the ladies' version last time (obviously because of the lower price range, the additional height and more importantly they fit me better). Let's just hope that this fall their e-store would release my size in mens version....

The fashion powerhouse is also introducing a slightly warped version of the brogues with full rubber soles (a plus for those who don't like their espadrille fibers to get ruined from over-wearing). Both variations retail at EUR580 a pop so better save your money starting from now on....

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Next on the line is AAA Topman collaboration with Mr Hare, the burgeoning English shoe-maker whose name is starting to spread worldwide, thanks to his enviable reputation of crafting near-perfect shoes. His main line are not cheap at all, retailing at around GBP300 and above. Fret not my dear budget-conscious friends, for shoes from this collaboration will range at a more affordable GBP80 -100 range. Mr Hare's attention for details which makes his shoes so famous are reported to be preserved in this collaboration line...

The collection consists of shoes, boots and high-top sneakers. They will be launched in two parts - one at the end of August and and the other at the end of October this year, and will be also available online...

I am falling in love with the cleaner half patent all-black lace-ups, well, because they're simply so simple!

Ramadan is a month of fasting...

2011-08-06T09:12:00.001+04:00

And so we are well almost entering the first week of Ramadan. Having to curb the hunger and thirst during the day, it is not surprising that people would definitely steer towards food (apart from the Taraweehs) come iftar time - perhaps it is our subconscious compensatory mechanism for all the abstaining. And all of us Malaysians know it means the food feast abounds in all parts of the country - the so-called 'bazaar Ramadan' dots every little corner of commercial sites near most housing areas. Food, glorious food awaits the hungry. Below are the shots that I took while food-shopping at a bazaar in Bangsar.

Typically the cuisine for sale in this country is in the form of fried and greasy food. It's a fatty party to no end...

Things look more salivating than ever with 'ayam percik', a kind of smoked piece of chicken in savoury sauce. But the one that I bought here was disappointingly bad - the meat is not fully cooked and the taste is not even half as good as I would normally expect.

Fry, fry, fry. No evidence of 'healthy' food here. I you're looking for one you're in a very wrong place, brother.

Two hard-working ladies selling 'nasi kukus ayam goreng berempah' (steamed rice and spicy fried chicken). This one surely satisfied my yearning palate. The chicken was very savoury!

What meal can be complete without desserts? This 'tepung pelita' is one of the nicest ones that I have ever tasted...

I'm not trying to be preachy (definitely do not have the right to be), but it is an irony to think that people abstain themselves from eating during the day yet fill their stomachs to no end during iftar. And to have tricked by the appearance of the food that may look good, but not as tasty is rather disappointing!

Interestingly, Islam Speaks, a twitter account full with Islamic advice twitted this - "Ramadan is not a month of party, it is a month of fasting". Oh well....

Whimsical trends: Cosmic prints

2011-08-02T12:51:00.003+04:00

This has a high potential to be my next blog header image!

You might notice cosmic/galactic/universal prints have seen a great surge these past two seasons, all thanks to designers like Christopher Kane who pretty much takes the responsibility in propelling beautiful galactic prints on the runway. I honestly do not know if he stole those gorgeous universe prints from NASA's archive of space images. Ha!

I for one am a big fan of prints, especially the (vaguely) painterly ones. When I saw Mr Kane's famed cosmic collection both for men and women some time last season, my childhood ambition to be an astronomer was suddenly re-triggered and was very tempted to grab a hold of one of the pieces. Oki-ni had a great selection of men's t-shirts, however the exorbitant (pun intended) price was a HUGE let down.

This is a unisex resort 2011 collection from Christopher Kane (kidding haha)

Come spring summer sales I happily noted that the t-shirts are sold half price at SSense.com, a Canadian-based e-boutique. Never mind that it's a women's t-shirt (isn't that old news?), the thought of the lower cost compared to Oki-ni made me joyous already.

Staring all day long at the mesmerizing vivid print...

The fabric is breezy, semi-sheer modal. The tag says 'dry cleaning only'. This shirt better be worth the dry cleaning fees which I only allocate to garments that I love. This is garment number thirty four.

No wonder people say e-window shopping is addictive. For those who have a weak will power like me can easily succumb to the temptations of sales. Who's to be blamed? (okay stop it I know I can see fingers pointing at me now). But the journey to the galaxy did not end here. I figured the more cosmic themes in an outfit the better...

The cosmic theme resonates perfectly in the Kipling x Peter Pilotto SS2011 collaboration. This Milky Way bag boasts a roomy space where I can stuff all my garbage when I'm in a hurry. The bag is also on a heavy discount at Kiplings outlet in One Utama.

We love matchy matchy hues...

Aren't you amazed by Lady Gaga's equally famous galactic-inspired Born This Way video?

Or Katy Perry's alleged copycat E.T video...

Well, thumbs up for Ssense for having a fairly good range of sizes. The negative part was the extortionate fixed postage fee! Imagine paying 50USD for such a light item. It was a rather foolish/wise decision to purchase it anyway, as the cost that I saved post discount is more beneficial than the shipping fee. (yes I hired an accountant to calculate that 'value-for-money shopping' for me).

Worn with Zara blazer, Cheap Monday jeans, vintage woven leather shoes

A 90's song that would be apt for all things cosmic is of course 'Intergalactic' by Beastie Boys...

Hopefully it's not too late to wish Happy Ramadan al-Mubarak for Muslims out there!

Shop till you drop - MUSA sales!

2011-07-30T16:58:00.000+04:00

It's that time of the year again where shops - luxury, high street and even e-retailers worldwide are having big slashes on their price tags. This is not the usual case in Malaysia, where generally most stores have a measly 30% to 40% discount on their goods. If you're looking for more than half price you must be considered a lunatic, or worse, poor. Thank goodness my favorite multi-label boutique Musa is taking a more daring step by bravely putting a 90% sign on some of their past season apparel - a good strategy to lure more customers in and a ballsy attempt either (think about unbalanced credit statement)...

You must be thinking that I am paid to blog about Musa and all but the truth is, like every one else, I'm paying with my own moolah to acquire their highly sought after pieces (okay may be I get a wee bit more discount but that's just it). Being really comfortable with the store and its staff I don't really mind visiting the outlet every other week to see what's new in-store.

Today was a really fun day of shopping not just for me, but for the other customers as well. I saw a few familiar faces who have returned here bringing husbands and friends just to grab a good deal before everything is sold out...

I'm not joking when I said 90% off. Rails of rails of clothes await both new and loyal customers.

Nazreem, Musa's director entertaining a customer and a friend

A sequined top from I Love My T's

These Jean Baptiste Rautureau shoes are so beautiful but my credit card will bleed if I bought them!

A highly crafted Atalanta Weiller knee-high boot which perfectly suits Lady Gaga, Rihanna and the likes.

Food, glorious food!

2011-07-30T09:42:00.001+04:00

Apologies for bombarding this blog with yet another food - related entry. I snapped a lot of food-related photographs back in Paris where, as cliched as it may sound, gastronomic endeavour is relished by everyone. Both Malaysians and the French have something in common (no, not exquisite taste in fashion) - we all love food and stuffing our faces. Hail the waiter as he would present to you the menu and perhaps suggest what's lovely to consume...

For breakfast, this is what he recommends...

French omelette, croissants, bread and butter, with a cup of cafe late and glass of orange juice.

As for lunch, a small restaurant right smack at the center of Paris is probably the best place to dine in...

Fried fish with tartare sauce and sliced cabbage, and potato wedges with sour cream as side dish.

For dinner something high in protein is essential, just to give the extra calorie that you might need to continue touring Paris.

Roasted duck in black pepper sauce with lettuce flower.

As a regular face-stuffer the main meals are not adequate, so get to the nearest boulangerie and get some of these wonderfully perfect breads. I can't resist the ones with a sprinkle of chocolate chips, obviously.

A meal without a dessert is rather incomplete. Being touristy enough, go get those famed Laduree macaroons!

Last but not least, something suiting every budget - the one that needs no description. But the fries are much better in this part of the world though. Well, they don't call them French fries for nothing HAHA.

Whimsical trends: dying for tie-dyes

2011-07-14T18:05:00.000+04:00

Phillip Lim's 2012 Spring Summer collection is filled with great styling and most importantly, wearable separates. I think this is very crucial in fashion especially in menswear, when most of the guys will tend to steer towards simpler and cleaner looks. In this collection the simple cuts and slightly roomy silhouette is especially augmented by the ingenuity in styling.

What I like most from the collection the most, apart from the smooth earthy colors, sea foam green and electric blue are the hombre-effect shirts and trousers. Definitely a good sprucing up for the all-white fabric, and definitely reminds me of my cheapie New Yorker degrade oversized cardigan.

Does this call for another DIY attempt? Possible and feasible, I think!

Tam Dao by Diptyque

2011-07-13T15:11:00.001+04:00

I'm not a person who can harp on and on about luxury-label fragrances or obsessively collect them. In fact I skeptically think perfumes are of importance at all and I have set my mind, since my student days, that the majority of my hard-earned income should be channeled towards clothing and shoes. In order to get by the everyday humidity and potentially embarrassing odorous moments I just cling on to my only fragrance - Comme Des Garcons 2, which was a birthday present from close friends back in Volgograd almost THREE years ago. Get this - I still use it till this very day!

However my previous trip to Paris has opened my eyes to a whole new world of fragrance. People there are not just immensely obsessed with perfumes, they simply could not live without them.

My foray into French fragrance territory is all thanks to Arman who introduced to me the famous Parisian fragrance brand Diptyque, that was stocked in L'Eclaireur, checking out which intensifies my interest in fragrances.

Diptyque is a generally an under-the-radar fragrance brand that is aptly so especially for those who desire understated luxury. This Paris-based company was founded in 1961 by three friends (Desmond Knox-Leet, Yves Coueslant and Christiane Gautro). Due to its burgeoning increase in sales, as most of big successful companies, this privately held niche perfume house was bought by London based Manzanita Capital.

The company originally produced printed fabrics, but in 1963 they introduced a line of scented candles and subsequently, in 1968, produced their first perfume, L'Eau. It's pretty overwhelming looking over Diptyque's list of perfumes over the years which spans over 20 individual fragrances.

But after a careful selection I finally resorted to a unisex perfume, Tam Dao - a floral woody musk fragrance for women and men. Launched in 2003 its top notes are rose, myrtle and italian cypress; middle notes are sandalwood and cedar; base notes are spices, amber, white musk and brazilian rosewood.

Of course I can't say that I'm too familiar with fragrance world lingo (what are top, middle and base notes still boggle me). But having a perfume with a quality that stimulates my olfactory nerves which in turn, evokes a certain emotion is good enough I think...

An unforgettable hue

2011-07-10T10:04:00.001+04:00

I used to stray away from vivid colours when I was younger and mindless as the mindset that time was anything brighter than my colour pencils deem tacky, campy and tasteless. Blame it on the peer pressure from spending five years in an all-boys boarding school which made me stick to conformity. Little that I knew that I would soon change my mind on how a man could and should dress.

Image courtesy of thedandyproject.com via Tommy Ton on GQ.com

Now that I have seen a lot of gentlemen out here (over the Net to be more precise) wearing a good splash of colour to spruce up their outfit, it only seems natural that I follow suit. Events like Pitti Uomo and menswear fashion shows is the place of meeting for these new hybrid of masculine men who wear colourful shades effortlessly and proudly flaunt their sartorial identity.

The desire to look more vibrant sartorial-wise is also fueled by current season's menswear powerhouse Jil Sander. Under the creative director Raf Simons this minimalistic-driven label has breathed a lease of new life again on colourful clothing for men. Their SS 2011 collection, as many of you would have known, is very much talked about and has been flying off shelves (of both the real and online ones). Oki-ni, the notable London-based online menswear retailer, for example, has sold out most of Mr Simons' brightly-hued shirts and trousers in electric blue, magenta and bright green, among others.

When I say I followed suit, please bear in mind that my attempt is ceaselessly feeble and there is always room for betterment, of course. And taking into account that half of my wardrobe is composed of that of women's, I apologise if that fact does not appeal to you guys who might hope I feature a gent's outfit for once. I'm sure there are gentleman readers who have their own take on colourful outfits done tastefully. So in the spirit of sharing I'll be waiting for your personal colour-injected outfit images. My e-mail is just at the sidebar over the right!

The latest addition to the clutches family is this tangerine orange Comme des Garcons leather clutch from MUSA Bangsar. (surprisingly affordable for such a cult label!). Worn with Peter Jensen crop blazer, Uniqlo pique tee, thrifted crop pants, Zara skinny belt, Lanvin A/W 2010 clogs.

And not forgetting this shiny and equally adorable moose brooch from Topman! The pique weave on this Uniqlo shirt looks more apparent...I'm basically have fallen in love with this Japanese label for its high quality cotton clothing...

Unleash the animal within...

2011-07-03T20:17:00.000+04:00

Animal-related influences never cease to make their way into fashion. Fur, animal prints like leopard, zebra or giraffe, and even more tactile ones such as alligator or python leather is somehow mandatory every season. Even menswear is not spared from this trend, although its usage in this department is usually more subtle - as the risk for a collection with animal-print frenzy is usually too difficult for a gentleman to pull off, will get cringed upon and ultimately won't sell well.

I for one would like to brave this trend and would try one of the more popular prints of all - the leopard / cheetah...

First to go - a rather plain outfit comprising of a light shirt which my dad used to wear YEARS ago, Atmosphere linen blazer, Tophop pants and Johnson desert boots... all combined with the relatively louder leopard print fur bag from Topshop.

And the second attempt of wearing leopard print is in the form of this T-shirt which I acquired from Chic POP a few months back (the fact that Chic POP is running around 3 times annually is very encouraging for the blog-shoppers but I think the vendors need to think of other clothes and trinkets to sell instead of the usual 'vintage-inspired' theme that seem predominant there).

The T-shirt is paired with Cheap Monday leather patch denim, Peter Pilotto x Kipling bag and Miu Miu espadrilles.

Here am I jumping like a fool at one of the rare family vacations, this time it was in Port Dickson (yes, it's basically our vacation spot because of the proximity and low cost accommodation).

Talking about something fur-like I am reminded about this Cheap Monday sweater (currently available at Musa Bangsar), with stripes of different materials where faux fur and knits switches one and another... It was hard to prevent myself from rubbing my palms over the soft material and not to look like a pervert...

Private Stitch

2011-06-26T12:47:00.003+04:00

Recently while perusing the sales ongoing at Isetan Lot 10 Kuala Lumpur I stumbled upon a label that seems like it hailed from Japan / Korea. But I believe this brand is a local one instead.

"Private Stitch has earned its sartorial stripes with an unswerving and energetic approach to producing truly exciting Japan and Korean high-street men's fashion" - Private Stitch.

For Spring Summer 2011 their collection is called "Summer Opulence". But personally I think it is a rather casual take on the clothes itself, and the term 'opulence' is somehow misleading. Price-wise I think the label is quite affordable with a shirt tagged at about RM130.

One of the things that excite me most upon discovering this label is its sizing, which caters to smaller frames like me. I have frequently harped upon my vertically-challenged physique on Dunia Fashyon and how tough it is to find me clothes that fit me without prior alterations.

Now I could easily find my size whilst browsing their clothing, much to the contrary when it comes to bigger brands (the European / American ones especially). In fact I am slightly relieved that now I have better options for better-fitting shirts, rather than going to the same high street labels over and over again (i.e the likes of Topman or Seed).

Besides I was actually drawn to a chambray shirt which has a very interesting fabric detail, which looks like the threads have been woven in a specific way creating such patterns...

It also seems the Italian cuff with an unexpected surprise beneath draws my attention a little bit more.

They also have a well-stocked collection of affordable accessories including faux leather skinny weave belts, bow ties, straw hats and studded faux leather cuffs.

Browsing further I also noticed a shirt with tiny floral prints which is rather casual and subdued. Given the fact that my wardrobe is lacking this kind of shirt I made a decision to purchase it...

I'm wearing a Private Stitch floral shirt with Topman Limited khaki trousers, PS Paul Smith loafers, Paul and Joe tote with a brooch commemorating 4Oth anniversary of victory at World War II I bought in Russia.

For the time being the label's website is still under construction. Currently they have a Facebook page instead...

Temporary spotlight

2011-06-26T07:03:00.000+04:00

A few weeks ago I had an interview with Dzireena Mahadzir from the Star for the Clove section. The questionnaire was all about vintage style (bearing in mind that I had very little collection of 'vintage' clothing and neither the wealth of knowledge to delve into the subject at hand my answers basically hovered on sweeping generalisation of the issue of vintage).

And I managed to produce a limited amount of vintage clothing in the forms of my all-time favorite Parisian find high-heeled lace-ups and the weaved leather Camel Adventures shoes....

Not tooting my own horn but now that my blog has been featured a few times perhaps I should follow suit of other bloggers to place a 'shameless self-promotion' section at the sidebar?

You can read the complete article here.

Gloriously tempting

2011-06-21T14:22:00.000+04:00

It's really interesting when attendees for fashion events get something different as a door gift. Instead of the usual cosmetics / magazines affair Dior has treated their guests with this delectable dark chocolate, which came all the way from France.

Eating it feels like an atomic bomb destroying the most beautiful palace. I just love the intricacy of the images on the chocolate blocks, and most importantly, the precise Dior font.

Ah, the glorious feeling of chocolate melting in the mouth...

Repetto and its legacy of fine ballet shoes

2011-06-19T13:56:00.000+04:00

Repetto is a well-known ballet shoes label in Paris with its legacy dating back to 1947. During my trip to Paris I had the opportunity to visit its store at Rue Paix near Place Vendome. It was packed to the brim, so much so that they had to put people in queues in order to just to allow smooth traffic within the store.

Their first pointe shoes were created by Rose Repetto at the request of her son dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. Currently the brand expands to not just ballet shoes per se as it now produces contemporary models for both men and women.

The simple, elegant styling of its shoes have quickly made their way into fashion with collaborations with celebrated designers like Comme des Garcons, Karl Lagerfeld and more recent ones like Rodarte.

Repetto X Rodarte

Repetto X Comme Des Garcons

Repetto X Karl Lagerfeld

Being spoilt for the array of options in the store I finally resorted to this brown suede desert boots which evokes the softest feeling upon caressing the leather.

Everything looks delicate from the suede upper to tiny eyelets for the laces...

... and not to mention the smooth leather sole that unfortunately will be ruined instantaneously as my feet will definitely touch the crude tarmac streets of Kuala Lumpur.

The main feature of Repetto shoes is the way the leather sole is sewn to the shoe from the inside first before being turned the right way around.

I'm wearing these magnificent boots with Helmut Lang light cotton long shirt/trench, Giordano striped tee and Topman pants.

The Helmut Lang shirt was a purchase long time ago from Wondermomo in Plaza Mon't Kiara, and I only managed to wear it recently at the Dior presentation.

I like how the tightness of the shirt can be adjusted accordingly by the buttons at the back, which will create some sort of a flare...

For more history on Repetto (in French, but Google Translate always helps) you can visit this website.

Dior SS 2011 presentation

2011-06-18T17:09:00.001+04:00

I'm not much of a Dior enthusiast as the only thing that I am familiar with this label is the kerfuffle in the form of the news hovering its most celebrated designer John Galliano (you know, the story about him releasing racist comments and subsequently was sacked from House of Dior and so on...)

And to add to my ignorance list apart from the ubiquitous J'adore Dior parfums I can only name Lady Dior bag as one of Dior's prominent products (with that certain image of Marion Cottilard modelling it in my mind).

However I did not waste the opportunity to learn more profoundly about Dior when I was invited by Arman to attend its womenswear Spring-summer 2011 presentation in its boutique in Starhill Gallery.

We arrived to a small party of about thirty guests and started to mingle around and naturally, began to mill about every corner of the boutique to look, touch and feel the softness of the silk dresses, the coarse yet smooth weaves of tweed jackets, and admire the intricacies of little unexpected wonders like lace detail on a dress...

This dainty neutral-hued cardigan with bow and floral details is quite 'man-able' without, well, the floral details...

This weaved skirt is another unexpected detail from Dior that a lot of people out there might also appreciate...

A tiered dress which makes all the girly girls swoon over...

The print on this top and bag vaguely reminds me of one of those Rorschach ink-blot test, or one of those tie-dye techniques.

Crocheted tops without question is without question is suitable given our searing hot and humid weather..

Overtly feminine clothing continue to dominate in this collection it seems - especially evidenced in this dress with rose prints complete with pink sash...

But somehow a bit of structure sneaks in with this mildly accentuated shoulders (which then again, reminds me of Balenciaga from S/S 2008)...

Yours truly with among the guests that night - from left to right (Nazreem Musa, Ariezs, Dahlia Nadirah, Arman Shahril).

I was wearing a light cotton long shirt/trench by Helmut Lang, ruffled shirt by Rajesh Pratap Singh (a score from Musa relocation sale), Topshop leopard-print bag, tailored *Celio woolen pants and Prada foam shoes).

It was definitely a fun night spent with other fashion enthusiasts and not to mention perusing all these beautiful clothes were really on the eyes too...

Christopher Kane's oriental motifs, Comme Des Garcons clutches

2011-06-12T16:46:00.000+04:00

I'm jumping for joy as I typed this as Comme Des Garcons has finally landed in Kuala Lumpur! My cravings for CdG attains satiety in spite of only leather ware being featured here. A collection of blindingly loud neon-hued clutches and wallets of varying sizes awaits the adventurous lot. The urge of getting my hands on these babies intensifies ever more so after looking at this beautiful image by Tommy Ton, which actually gives the clutch more justice (you know my digital camera is shit so yes it's apples and oranges...).

On the other hand those who'd rather stick to classic colours can opt for these demure card and coin holders or wallets which are suitably arranged next to their more kaleidoscopic counterparts...

For those looking for a bigger space to carry their belongings fret not, 'cause these embossed leather totes are ready to be someone's arm candy ( I know I'm starting to sound like somebody from PurseBlog or something)....

The saying 'save the best for last' cannot be more apt if we're talking about Christopher Kane, the uprising British designer who dazes fashion editors with his out-of-this-world prints and vibrant hues. For this season neon lace infused with oriental-inspired prints like dragons, tigers and exotic flora are chosen and finely placed on jersey t-shirts and dresses creating a breathtakingly beautiful collection. But I'm discreetly wishing if they can re-stock the wildly popular cosmic prints from his resort collection... because that's what I truly need!

Christopher Kane and Comme Des Garcons leather accessories are exclusively available at Musa, No 34, Jalan Telawi 5, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

More on Musa

2011-06-12T07:33:00.001+04:00

Musa has basically switched what I can say as almost 90% of the rather 'underground' designers to exciting and relatively well known cult labels which cater to both ladies and men. The long wait has ended and we shall celebrate and rejoice as I firmly believe it is the first time such labels to be available in Kuala Lumpur!

First and foremost, the boutique has managed to bring select pieces from Gareth Pugh SS 2011... I reckon lots of people are already aware of the rock and roll/ cyberpunk aesthetic (as Divinitus had pointed out to me in my Gareth Pugh showroom post) which remains true to GP's design philosophy. Shiny slashed leather tights as shown above can look amazing on tall lithe individuals like Musa's owner Nazreem Musa himself...

Leggings with precision-cut leather panelings and skinny jeans with fabric details certainly caught my attention...

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DRKSHDW by Rick Owens made its debut presence at Musa with his dark brooding aesthetic that this label and Gareth Pugh might have in common. Interestingly enough while in Paris I found out that GP and RO were almost like sister labels whereby they both have a similar customer base, with one customer hopping off from GP showroom to RO and vice versa..

A floor-length top that again, only certain people with infinite height can get away with...

A billowy asymmetrical top that clearly has been ripped off by a lot of high street labels...

I like to believe that finer things in life come in the forms of this beautifully tailored cut-out blazer and also a silky smooth top with pleated sleeves...

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Another cult label making its way to this boutique is none other than MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela. For this season MM6 provides us with simple functional basics like this champagne-colored oversized cardigan...

And this seemingly simple white tee that upon closer inspection is not simple at all as it can be worn in at least THREE different ways...

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Raf by Raf Simons also adds to the already burgeoning list of cult designers at Musa. A rare occasion it is as finally gentlemen can have their fair share here with these crisp classic shirts and also a black-and-white floral print T-shirt...

To be continued....

Clean slate at MUSA Bangsar

2011-06-10T15:31:00.000+04:00

I am much content when Musa (a multilabel store which I have frequently harped on), which previously has a cafe as its gastronomic extension has finally concentrated on clothing only, thus rendering a more focused attention to what they were selling. Moving out to Bangsar where there is a higher concentration of 'fashion demographics' also means more walking traffic and accessibility to the shoppers. Besides the boutique itself is a much welcomed addition to the array of independent designer stores lining Jalan Telawi.

This time around the shop has pretty much a full-blown make over in terms of interior design. The previous premise in Avenue K, with its what I feel maximal baroque-influenced interior has been replaced by a rather stark white decor in this new Jalan Telawi outlet. This only serves one purpose- to bring the customers' focus towards the goods and only the goods, nothing else.

Speaking about goods this season Musa has brought in a rather impeccable list of labels - the selection is a mix of rather popular high fashion labels with the likes of Gareth Pugh, Cristopher Kane, MM6 line from Maison Martin Margiela and also a collection of Comme Des Garcons supple leather pouches, among others.

Well honestly the current collections available in Musa need to be dissected in a separate manner in order to delve further into the items at hand, hence hopefully the images in my upcoming posts will prove their worthiness in giving you the close-up of what Musa currently has in store...

Baden Baden Bundle

2011-05-21T11:48:00.002+04:00

You might be grossed out by the letter B overload in my post title. But it's really how they named this second hand /bundle store (and it also reminded me of the other secondhand shop which also starts with B, that is Buntil....)

I visited this fairly spacious shop during my previous trip to Port Dickson - the first time I stepped my foot into the store was last year but alas, no photos were taken then.

Anyway, the Port Dickson outlet seems the biggest of all, and is located strategically along the public beach (other branches including the ones in Melaka, Perak and Johor)....

Apparently something tells me that I spend too much time at big air-conditioned malls in KL, because I did not even notice that they also have a branch in Gombak! Truth to be told I'm afraid this shop unfortunately falls in the 'randomly selected secondhand items mostly sourced from Japan' category, with rails and rails of generic rock band t-shirts/ denim jeans/ flannel shirts on sale.

But don't despair just yet. On a brighter note for those with time and patience careful rummaging and selecting might yield something worthwhile...

This time around they also included a scarves-only bin (all for RM1 each!), and rows of shoes (which sadly are all too big for my tiny feet). There were also some options, albeit limited, on bags.

Personally I bagged a few of these lovely scarves, mostly because of the interesting details and fairly delicate material (and not to mention my mother and sisters insisted me to purchase so they can wear them themselves).

My little sis trying a hand-dyed silk scarf.

I don't know what I should do with the scarves yet, but ideas of utilizing them as pocket squares / neckerchiefs, or even table clothes seem appealing...

Apart from the scarves I managed to grab these err.... floral pants last minute before checking out at the cashier (pics will be shown soon). No, I did not try them on, so I'm not sure whether this whimsical purchase is justified or not. Worse comes to worse my little sister would definitely fit into these pants...

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Baden Baden Bundle Blog (ever been tired of too many B's in one title?) ... and yeah I should warn you beforehand the blog is scarcely updated...

Baden Baden Bundle Facebook

P/S:

I might be asking too much but am really hoping more second hand shops would come out with 'curated' pieces at affordable price range. The ones that exist currently (e.g. Lah'lah' Land) is doing a good job but obviously is insufficient to meet today's demands for interesting vintage pieces...

Happy thrifting!

Margiela X Opening Ceremony Fall 2011

2011-05-19T01:53:00.001+04:00

The MM6 x Opening Ceremony collaboration for Fall/Winter 11/12 collection seems like a great marriage of two cult labels with an equally strong cult following.

As disappointing as it may sound the collection lopsidedly revolves around womenswear only, thus rendering their male counterpart frantically yearning for a sartorial blessing from these two contemporary taste makers in current international fashion scene...

The range includes both women’s apparel and accessories – with the keystone of the collection being that nearly each piece can be transformed or reinterpreted. Select styles throughout the collection transform into separately wearable garments.

Case in point - a quilted leather coat , worn as a full jacket or paired with nylon by way of zipping on or off.

Casual wear is done right by the design team, especially when combined with the dangerously low V-neck tee.

Simple color-blocking (or in this case, monochromic arrangement) is achievable with this shirt, super short denim + nylon skirt and a pair of black tights.

Personally I feel that the accessories from this collection are the ones which stand out more - the black or brown cowhide boots and leg warmers,

As shown in the above pictures, with the legwarmer pulled down a slouchy look is created, just enough to spruce up that rather bland legging...

The overall aesthetics of the collection resounds Margiela's signature simplicity and the wearibility is a simultaneous nod to Opening Ceremony’s playful nature.

The highlight item from this collection is none other than the simplistic, detachable three-in-one bag. Being one of the rare items that I feel a guy like me can purchase from this collection, I'd like to carry the bags separately depending on the occasions. The small pouch will certainly hold my random items...

Nothing can portray this collection better than this short promotional video by Margiela itself. With the partially spooky and partly playful background music, each detachable and versatile piece is shown in a cheeky stop-motion technique...

MM6 x Opening Ceremony from A MAGAZINE on Vimeo.

The capsule collection launches globally in September 2011 at Opening Ceremony locations, and of course, will be available in Kuala Lumpur at MUSA.

Margiela home decor

2011-05-04T20:24:00.001+04:00

Whilst perusing the Margiela x Opening Ceremony capsule collection for AW 2011 - which I will be posting next, the friendly Margiela staff (both of whom are Russians - it was good to be able to communicate in Russian, albeit mine was a little rusty) brought us to the ground level of the headquarter and showed us the label's pilot home decor collection which are in-line for production, though the date for its debut is still indefinite.

Similar to the philosophy behind the brand's clothing line, these household objects have the intriguing quality which might fool a regular bystander who is alien to all things deceptively simple. Regular items that we might see commonly in our daily lives are given a new lease of life and function under Margiela's creative spell...

For example, ordinary geeky glasses are split into halves and turned into magnifying glasses...

Wine bottles serve as stands for the lampshades...

Turning back to the olden days elegant and lush ostrich plumes like these are used for writing...

The ostrich theme resonates on to this real ostrich egg painted in white - so it matches your Margiela-inspired all-white furniture - quite a cohesive concept I see.

Hitting both creative and utilitarian marks, as the year ends these peel-off calendars can serve as your layers of napkins come New Year Eve dinner party...

Another both functional and aesthetically pleasing item is this wine cooler - the steel container have the markings which, according to the staff, are inspired from the painting supply - roller coater...

The cutest things come in the shape of this authentic leather Tabi shoe sole - don't be fooled by your eyes this one is a real toddler's size, and in this case, it acts as a bookmark!

Nothing can remind me more of Russia as these matryoshkas (nesting dolls). True to Margiela's spirit they are again in white, and the sign of authenticity is prevalent as the dolls are made in Nizhny Novgorod, a small city in Russia.

And I really wish this trompe l'oeil- effect wallpaper come into production so I can decorate my bland bedroom with it...

Last but not least the remainder of the Margiela HQ is explored later that day and I really admire how they still preserve the history / architecture part of this monastery with these intact toilets by the lounging area (well, not sure if the toilets are functioning given the fact that noone would actually hangout next to urine/poo stench)

Maison Martin Margiela at home

2011-04-30T11:30:00.000+04:00

Probably 1.9 billion people watched the royal wedding yesterday on the box. But honestly I could not give much attention and the fact that menswear-wise at the ceremony a bit of a lacklustre was really disappointing.

However here I have a weekend feast for your eyes. Having to visit Maison Martin Magiela's Parisian headquarter at rue St. Maur was a memorable trip during yet my another tag-along buying trip with MUSA where I saw with my very eyes the simple yet intriguing interior of the premise.

The building used to be a monastery which was then converted to a current Parisian office of this cult label. As most of you would have known Margiela's symbolic use of white is quite apparent especially in the wall color, furniture and even the white labcoat-clad staffs who were so friendly and informative.

I read in an interview sometime ago Margiela's prevalent usage of white for the furniture hits both the economical and aesthetics values - in their Antwerp HQ, for example, they used to collect vintage/used furniture from all over the city and to tie those variably shaped furniture in; the solution was to paint them white. Sheer genius I'd say!

The reception area...

Complete with old-school computers and supermarket-like deck where the cashiers' counters are. I believe the deck is perhaps taken from a mart going into oblivion?

A beautiful chandelier covered for unknown reason. I reckon it's part of the aesthetics...

The interior of the showroom...

Again there are a few fabric-covered chandeliers inside as well, which reminds me of the view in abandoned mansions in a typical Hollywood style scary movie...

Coming up: More Margiela related posts!

Bon weekend!

Ethnic prints on a shirt

2011-04-25T20:18:00.000+04:00

These few seasons I have been fascinated by how ethnic prints have made their way into designers' collections. Edited cleverly these oftenly overwhelming prints can be very stunning and interesting to be worn. Who says cultural-inspired themes are ought to be donned at mundane weddings and sterile government-related occasions only? I believe the idea of a man wearing prints is not a stuffy or even feminine one at all.

I have a wild fantasy of wearing pieces from this ethnic-infused collection from Dries Van Noten of spring summer 2010 season (as pictured above). As an ultimate master of prints he managed to create a collection that is very desirable to be worn even by today's pattern and color shy generation.

These images resemble what I think the creme de la creme of mixture of prints and patterns...

image credit: thefashionisto.com

Alas, I could only say more than I could afford the fine craft of Mr Van Noten.

As a substitute I stumbled upon this cheap ethnic-inspired tee at Sungei Wang (it's the last place I imagine to find such a great find, well, not as great as wearing the real deal of course). What attracts me to buy this t-shirt is because of the obvious reasons - the embroidery effect which appears like an infusion of Scandinavian with Sarawakian tribal print.

The whole 'ethnic/tribal' look is complemented with heaps of wrist accessories as well. No, the apple is not included as it was only waiting to be eaten by me haha...

Wearing pants and t-shirt from Sungei Wang, Parkson weaved bangle, HM necklace turned into bracelet, Sungei Wang bracelet, Jil Sander shoes.

Musa relocation sale

2011-04-17T19:21:00.002+04:00

Our RELOCATION SALE starts today!!!

Crazy discounts in store now.

UP TO 90% off!!!

MUSA FASHION & DINE

G-3, AVENUE K, 156, 50560 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

TEL: +603.2166.0552 FAX: +603.2166.0560

e-mail: fashion@musa.com.my FACEBOOK: facebook.com/musaKL

MUSA will be relocating to a more strategic spot soon and hence the relocation sale.

I received this rather simple e-mail in my inbox a couple of days ago and it instantly cheered me up while I was slaving away at my seriously mundane, unfashionable workplace. I was basically grinning ear to ear when I read the "up to 90% off" line. Yes, you read that right!

I've been told the furniture in the premise is up for sale as well.

I will probably go there tomorrow with my girl friends and see if there is anything worth purchasing (in which there is a high probability of me getting home NOT empty-handed). As you would have known substantial sales makes my knees wobble and I will likely succumb to the capitalistic temptations, willingly.

Yes, I'm weak just like that.

P/S: If you don't want to miss the action hurry up as I presume the sales will only have a few days left...

Orrrrrange

2011-04-16T18:30:00.000+04:00

Going to the Comme des Garcons presentation just made my day. But figuring out what to wear to my first 'real' fashion show was a headache. I did imagine that the attendees would show up in their best CdG getup, and most probably in an authentic one as well.

But the pauper yours truly could only be inspired by the label's ubiquitous drop-crotch trousers and hence this was where the Thai fisherman pants came into a role.

Prior to flying off to Paris I also purchased this Peter Jensen bright orange cropped blazer from MUSA at a highly reduced price (in which I bought another similar blazer in navy blue) and tried to match the tangerine hue with the ethnic Zara bib necklace and finished off with these socks from Happy Socks in a similar tint.

Wee... my chicken legs exposed upon pulling up the baggy pants (covered in tights to withstand the nasty cold winter winds of course!)

Later that evening Arman and I had a stroll in Paris and played tourist in Musée du Louvre, where this slightly odd photograph was taken, in the freezing cold winter night, no less...

I was wearing Peter Jensen blazer, vintage eBay brown blazer (top picture), Topman shirt underneath, Zara bib necklace, silver bangles from Sungei Wang, Thai fisherman pants with cheap Giant tights underneath, Jil Sander shoes, Happy Socks socks

Never mind that people in the Parisian metro was staring at my rather outlandish outfit but bearing in mind that it was fashion week I think they would probably have considered it quite normal haha!

AW2011 Comme Des Garcons womenswear presentation

2011-04-16T13:55:00.002+04:00

This entry might be ridiculously long overdue and I'd like to apologise beforehand for those who happened to read my tweet eons ago about how I'd blog this as soon as I came back to my hotel in Paris but never actually saw my post coming up until now. Alas this is the n-th time I'd like to shove the blame against the good old Mr Procrastinator...

However I must digress...

As you might have known I was lucky enough to replace Arman to see Comme des Garcons womenswear showroom presentation as he had another appointment. The invitation card says the show starts at 10am sharp! I felt that I've been fooled by my own naivety when I doubted that the show will start on time, just like other typical fashion shows. Boy was I wrong. Everyone was there even before 1000H. I thought that this is definitely the quintessential punctuality amongst the Japanese. It is in fact in contrast to most of the fashion houses which really open their shows later than the time they mention in the invitation cards.

The crowd which comprises of faithful CdG devotees and buyers alike (you could probably have guessed from their attire which one is which)

Luckily I arrived 10 minutes earlier prior to the presentation and managed to secure a front row seat. Well, even though this is merely a showroom presentation but nevertheless I'd like to see the clothes up-close, and furthermore this is my first time seeing a proper 'runway' show, so all the more reason to grab the seat with the probably best view of all...

Casual looking capes in all sizes and silhouettes.

To my surprise the show commenced eerily silently when the models walked in unannounced. The noisy room where the attendees had friendly chats with each other previously (but I didn't and awkwardly sat in between 'real' fashion people, just keeping mum and did not know how to blend in with my feeble attempt trying to look so CdG and whatnot) abruptly turned quiet when the lithe models walked in. The only noise in the room was the clicking sound of cameras and the occasional gasps of amazement....

Everything looks so painfully elegant (in a CdG kind of way of course) - the deconstructed garments looks much more beautiful closer up. These photos taken from my Blackberry obviously don't make any justice over the fact that every little detail on the clothes are very impeccably done.

Unlike big flashy fashion shows where the designers try to be as theatrical as possible or play the hippest music loudly to entertain the audience, the silence of this particular show actually brought benefit in this case where everyone could hear the swishing sounds of the fabrics, especially the iconic drop crotch trousers....

Every little detail and deconstruction plays a role in making each garment unique - a fact that many fashion outsiders (and even me) frequently misunderstand.

A boyish look with this chambray shirt and loose shorts with lace-ups. Overly done but still has its charm I think.

This outfit below reminds me of a schoolgirl in a pinafore dress...

Floral motifs did not escape this collection either...

The attendees also showed up in their best unconventional outfits, best to go with CdG's arty feel. I especially adore this girl's pants which somehow look like long bloomers with a beautiful print!

I'll show you what I mean by a feeble attempt at trying to blend in with the devoted CdG followers in the next post....

Prada foam shoes SS11

2011-03-27T22:20:00.001+04:00

I am definitely stating the obvious over the fact that everybody in the blogosphere is talking about how Prada Spring/Summer 2011 is the most memorable collection for both menswear and womenswear this season - let it be the bold kaleidoscopic colours e.g. in the dresses, knitwear, the bright blue and pink fur stoles, psychedelic patterns (gliding monkeys and bananas - how kookier can Miuccia Prada be?), and most important of all, the footwear, which was among the other factors that stole every one's attention...

So much so that even the powerhouses of street style photography (none other than Scott Schuman of the Sartorialist and Tommy Ton of the famed Jak and Jil blogs) have been capturing real people wearing these shoes on the street...

Probably I'm lying if I said that I did not give a hoot about the layered foam / espadrille soles delish that crept up both in the men's and ladies' departments. Personally these shoes ticked every criteria of the ideal footwear of mine:

a) The half formal / half playful overall look of the shoes is perfect for work and play (well, in my own non-civil working fantasy at least)

b) And of course, the extra bulk and height that the layers of striped foam and espadrille provide is much needed for my midget figure, thank very much...

Thus the recent trip to Paris provided the golden opportunity for me the grab this chance of a lifetime to actually own a pair of the much-coveted shoes!!! You'd probably stone me to death if I said this, but I'll be flashing a smirk when I add the cheesy tag line of 'as seen on the runway' to these shoes...

In view of the shoes' combinational nature in terms of style I've whipped up a couple of names for these babies (other people have real babies and even cats or puppies as babies, but yes, for the time being let these shoes be my precious little'uns...)

My baby nestling in the softest tissue paper...

First, we can call them BROGADRILLES. Or ESPADROGUES. It's quite easy to see why (brogues + espadrilles, duh.)

Or, perhaps FRANKENSHOES would be more appropriate? (the bulky size really makes the wearer a bit brutish / this is the type of footwear that Frankenstein would love to don).

Here I tried to demonstrate how versatile they can be, seamlessly matching the current items in my wardrobe, methinks:

LOOK ONE

librarian geek

I was wearing vintage shirt (my dad's), Benetton argyle sweater, Uniqlo pants and socks, Ermenegildo Zegna reversible belt, Marc Jacobs glasses.

LOOK TWO

Safari/ clashing prints

I was wearing floral shirt by Seed, thrifted Safari-printed shirt, Cheap Monday jeans, Uniqlo socks.

LOOK THREE

proportions versus silhouette

I was wearing Seed floral shirt, Uniqlo velour blazer, thrifted capri pants, H&M belt, Muji socks.

LOOK FOUR

kitschy / eccentric / back to five year old

I was wearing Giordano striped tee, Topshop polka dot blazer, thrifted jean, Muji socks, random broom.

Now that I have spent a substantial amount of my income splurging on these precious ones, please excuse me while I find a way to pay back my exceeding credit card limit...