Basic Boho

When Carly from A Walk in the Park posted a photo-inspiration of the little black dressed styled bohemianly (yes, I just made "boho" into an adverb!) I instantly thought, Hey! I can do that too! It was such an exciting realization because I already had the essentials in my closet! I love to always be assessing, judging and figuring out how I can emulate another blogger's outfit or a perfect a pinterest style. But sometimes I have to shut it down. The thoughts in my head start saying, "You have to buy that. You need that. That will be perfect and give you everything you need." 

Like I said. Shut. It. Down. 

I don't want my life to be about always buying things. I don't want my blog to be either. I mean, I love a good shopping spree same as the next girl. But I constantly try to minimize my purchases. At the end of the day, I would rather spend my money on plane tickets and make memories. 

So anyways, back to this outfit. I didn't need to buy anything! Yay! It was the perfect casual and easy outfit to meet Sara for coffee.  

 

Source: A Walk in the Park 

Dress: TJ Maxx | Vest: New 2 U Thrift store | Shoes: Rack Room | Bag: Thrift store (Korea) | Necklaces: Lovisa  

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Photos by Sara Moulton

Top 10 Past Favorite Looks for Festival Season

Little Shoulders on the Prairie

Now that Coachella's first weekend has wrapped up, I am gobbling up all the festival-themed blog posts. I almost forget that it's actually about the music until someone mentions Kid Cudi or Jenny Lewis and then I think, aw man! Now I'm doubly jealous. 
In lieu of being in the desert, here are some of my favorite festival-worthy outfits. Although if I had my way, I'd wear my cowboy boots with all of them!
While I can't be jamming out in Cali, y'all keep the palm tree & ferris wheel photos a'comin'!

In Them Cutoff Jeans

 New Romantics

Summer Basics

Belly Dancing

Bike Island

MIxing Prints

Deck 4

At the Lake

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Festival Ready

In my heart, I have been preparing for festivals. I was all over everyone's blogs for SXSW and every link that mentions Coachella and festival fashion, I gotta click it. Sadly, in reality there will be no music festivals for me here in Singapore. But that doesn't mean I can't dress up for the one that's in my head! 

I went to Australia last week and had a blast! Caught up with a good friend, ate deliciiious food, swam with dolphins, lazed around at extraordinary beaches and of course, saw kangaroos! Photos to come soon. I can't help but admit though, one of the highlights of my trip was going to the Salvation Army (Salvo as they call it; Aussies always have to shorten words!) The shopping was cheap but best of all - all the beautiful things FIT me! I wasn't in tiny-size Asia anymore. Australian style is what I call "beach aware". The citizens of Perth always looked put together, stylish and trendy without trying to hard - but as if I spontaneously yelled out, "We're going to the beach!", they would without question throw off their professional heels and dive in the water. Who doesn't want to be that girl? 

I got this skirt at Salvo and fell in love. As you know, white is the trend du jour that's not going anywhere. It has that granny bohemian feel with the tiered-lace detail and tiny peach flower print. If I was back home, I would rock this with cowboy boots hard, flower crown on my head and a beer in my hand.

My talented friend Sara of Sara in Singapore took these beautiful photos.  Being in Singapore and having Sara as a friend has made me realize how important it is to surround yourself with like-minded people, especially if you are creative. I start feeling myself get grumpy and restless, fed up with my blog and too many ideas just bouncing around in my head. Then I have one conversation with Sara and I feel re-energized and inspired. Make sure you check out her darling and clever calligraphy Instagram also!

What are you/would you wear to upcoming music festivals? 

What's inspiring you lately? 

Skirt: Salvation Army | Tank Top: Cotton On | Sandals: Rack Room Shoes
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Baby, We're the New Romantics

If ya haven't figured it out, I'm quoting Taylor here. She definitely has the bon mot for romance - don't believe me? Check out this awesome Buzzfeed "If Taylor Swift Lyrics Were About Henry VII". You're welcome. Her lyrics transpires centuries, hehe. 

I feel like this skirt empathizes romance: the deep russet red, the long flowy fabric, the pleats and gathers. 

And it certainly goes with new romantics - I don't think the 1st round of old romantics were going around in crop tops and beaded vests (but definitely the 2nd round in the 60's!) And while being romantic obviously goes with this week's theme of Valentine's Day, I think Taylor is more referring to the literary movement of the 19th century - a group of writers, artists and thinkers who believed in true expression of emotions, rebelling aspects of society, finding beauty in all things and going back to nature. To name a few: Lord Byron (free love), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (humanity v. industry),  John William Waterhouse (beautiful women in natural landscapes). 

Then fast forward and we get the hippies who were inspired by the romantics - which inspired the bohemian style and this specific outfit! Voila! See how I went full cycle there? 

Besides the skirt - which I lurrrve (also see here and here) - I'm obsessed with this sweet little vest - not only is the netting really funky and fun but it's got seed pearls woven into the pattern! With the vest, I'm trying out the "Third Piece Rule" of wearing a 3rd piece that really pulls your whole look together. I read this on Little J Style's blog and thought dangit! Why didn't I think of this? Or at least know about it? It really does make the difference - though it can be hard to do in the tropics. 

So what do you think? Of Taylor? Henry VII? Romanticism? Hippies? The 3rd Piece Rule? 

I bet Henry definitely followed the Third Piece Rule and was all about some free love! 

Everything Thrifted 

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Mixing Prints

I've been trying really hard to do relevant fall-inspired posts… but y'all, IT'S SO HOT HERE in Singapore. This is as close as I've gotten so far; I'm wearing a cardigan! Does that count as fall-esque?! I barely have closed-toed shoes over here but less fall boots (don't worry, they are tucked safely away at my parents' place in the US). 

Either way, I think this outfit is so fun. I especially love the crop top. It actually used to be part of a dress but the dress wasn't that flattering so snip snip! I couldn't get rid of it because of the awesome print and the adorable trim. Not to mention the cross on the back and the way it kind of shimmies when I move; a great, fun summer top. 

The skirt I got at my thrift store here. I am absolutely in lurrrrrrve with the cut of the skirt - it's almost a maxi but instead of a circle skirt flaring out from the waist, it hugs my hips; very flattering I think. And the print is so weird; it borders on ugly-cute and I love it. I think I wear this skirt at least once a week to work. 

Last thing to pull it all together is my mesh oversized cardigan. Here's another crop top look with this cardigan. We went to go see Interstellar (did not expect that to be such an emotional roller coaster) in theaters and then to the Singapore Art Museum - two places that are notorious for blasting the AC. 

Besides these two outfits being my favorite things: crop tops and maxi skirts, I also love the colors and play with patterns! I was skeptical at first but pairing them together really grew on me. I figured I followed the rule, so I'm okay. As long as the two patterns share the same color palette, it should work. I think I'm in the clear! 

Shirt: Clothing Swap | Skirt & Purse: New2U Thrift Shop | Sweater: Korean Thrift Store | Shoes: Cotton On

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