New love - Female!

Female magazine is my newest love and since it has revamped its look completely into a more organic, soft, muted and absolutely chic layout, i turned from once-in-a-few-months-reader to i-must-absolutely-get-it reader! I will definitely subscribe to it when I'm back from the States. :) The look and contents are so young and fresh for someone my age, and yet it is suitable for uppity professionals or the young tai-tai type, somehow its the change in fonts, the layout and the well-contrasted pictures that captivates me completely.

It's like miu miu in a magazine! Whimsical, fresh and that little bit of girly flirtiness.

Here are some of my Favourite picks (all pictures from Female)

xoxo, la belle

Secret Ambition

While i am painfully studying for my test tomorrow while nursing an infectious disease (should i even turn up?), my mind have not kept still. It keeps wandering like a butterfly flitting between the flowers, on irresistible distractions, and i can't help but dream that if i were born in a rich family, i will be able to fulfill this dream of mine.

If i have a lot of money, i'll graduate with a normal degree and take up fashion design as a part time diploma or degree instead. And fly over to prestigious fashion schools and enroll in it.. I don't think i need to be really good at sewing or designing, but i'll love to open a Singapore version of a high street chain following the foot steps of Espirit and Charles and Keith. Making the latest trends and thread accessible to the average Singaporean with some disposable money to spend.

I'll obtain inspirations from being at fashion shows, magazines and events, and coining all these ideas and extracting the essence of the season into easily worn ready to wear items. Maybe a little designing is needed, but it's more of conveying my ideas to a designer (such as what Baby Phat's owner is doing) ..and getting my designer and seamstress to work out a wearable piece. And selling it, but only at limited pieces, maybe a maximum of 30 pieces per design for the signature collection...and more for the basic collection of each season, depending on demand.

Well, okay then maybe there should be more quantity because it aims to be the clothing chain of something like Charles and Keith, but they only sell shoes and bags. This is more of a clothing, apparel line so it should start small, perhaps with one or two boutiques.

I wonder how CnK started though, was it from a normal shoe store? I wonder how Forever 21 started too, i'll love something like that. Huge variety for different styles and trends.

In any any way, this is just a wild dream of mine. But it feels good to indulge yourself in your dreams sometimes.

Epitome of a chic lifestyle

Haven't we all dreamed of it? The high life- being a jet-setter in nothing lower than business class, parties in yachts, charity balls and feathered masked events, dinners at Les Amis and getting fat on foie gras, but no fear because cosmetic procedures are like weekly spa visits. A nip here and a prick there to remove the fats, stimulate collagen production and basically, get a face and body stars dream of. Luxury boutiques sending invites to you - their VVIPS, front rows at catwalk shows, sipping cocktails and flirting with dolled up lashes fingers twiddling your perm (a visit to the makeup and hair artists 2 hours prior) and getting into the juicy grapevines.

That just sounded so tai-tai-esque, lol. :)

For someone 21, the 'perfect' high life living should go like this -> a room the size of people's living+dining room combined with a queen sized four poster bed with soft white veils, huge french windows and heavy curtains underlined with soft chiffon material blowing in the wind, a pretty antique white dresser with magic wand shimmer puffs and collectible perfume bottles

Walk-in wardrobe attached that is at least the size of some average HDB bedroom - chandelier lighting, victorian floral printed wallpapers, glided full length mirror and carpeted/parquet floors, rows of dresses , shoes and bags all colored coded).

Having designer bags to wear, nice fitting clothes perfectly tailored even if they're bought at Topshop, rows of River Island clothes (i think designer wear for a 21 yr old is a bit too severe, high street sounds fine enough)..

A personal car. A huge living room to talk to family members. A library with study tables that inspires... a dog of my own, preferably a teddy bear toy poodle, a big Golden Retriever..

A family of warmth and love, dinners with everyone present at least twice a week..

Having fantastic fabulous friends, who are either "in the league" or out of the league but are genuinely nice people whom you want to share your happiness with..

Sigh. =) It's just a dreamy dream.

New Brand I like - - The Face Shop products!

Reviews

It started with the Korean dramas (My Girl, Da Chang Jin) when you realize that the Koreans have really good skin. My 'love' with all things Korean begun because when you watch Korean shows, you can't help but fall in love with it. It is not violent and fast paced like American dramas that revolves over sexual themes most of the time. There's the certain gentle quality in all the Korean stuff - faces, dramas and love stories, people, dressing.

The power of subtleness is prevalent throughout. Delicate features, stylish and creative but not overtly so (the Japanese can be a bit too much, especially their Harajuku girls and kawaii cuteness that can be too sweet) in their dressing, good skin that looks translucent and fair, lovers who peck each other on the cheek and don't show affection inappropriately (so oppose to the I-want-to-take-off-your-clothes Americans), love that grows slowly over time in a funny way.

From there, the media/and people like me started to look towards Korean products for their naturalness of the ingredients and gentleness of the fragrance. The products feels mild and pampering towards the skin, while prices remain affordable. And all these made me love Korean skin care shops like Skin Food (cutest packaging) and The Face Shop (less cute but everything feels natural, not artificial).

PK104 - $2.90

My first buy from TFS (The Face Shop) is a pretty ballerina barbie pink nail polish that costs $2.90!! For such a low price, the quality is good, and i especially love the glossy finish that dries fast. Layer 2-3 times for best effect.

Second buys from TFS another day...

I got a base coat (left) and a nail polish with glitters inside. $2.90 each and as usual, the quality is fabulous.

Then, I got my boyfriend to use more skin care products and we went there to take a look 3 days ago.

Herb and Relief for Homme Pore Foam Cleanser - $24.90
Pore Minimising Toner for Homme - $28.90

Men's range for combi-oily skin. A foam cleanser and a powder pore minimizer toner because he have enlarged pores. I tried the cleanser too and i love how smooth and clean my face felt after using it! There's white clay in the cleanser to deep cleanse the skin, so lather up and massage it in for 1 minute before rinsing off. I didn't try the powder toner but i think it should be quite good too.

Sunblock SPF35 PA++ for guys for $22.90

The SA (shop assistants) at Parkway were really nice and helpful and recommended all those products to him while I was happily shopping for my own TFS stuff. :D They told me that if i accumulate $80 worth of receipts over a month, i can be a member enjoying 5% off all products, and they also have this promotion that for every $68 purchased, we can spin this wheel to get free gifts such as eyeshadows, liners, masks, nail polishes and so on.

So, naturally, i bought a lot of things. I wanted a fresh start to taking better care of my skin! :)

Sake Nourishing Body Lotion $25.90
Su Hyang Snow Maximizing Gel Creme $53.90 (extreme right)

The SA said that the Sake Lotion improves blood circulation and is more nourishing than the milk body lotion i wanted to get, and since the magazines did say something about Sake being good for skin.. I was pretty impressed by the lovely silky feel of my skin after using it. I feel a slight glow to the skin after using it for 3 days.

Su Hyang Snow is a range for combination-oily skin, hence the products are light as snow and non-oily at all. I bought the Maximizing Gel Creme as a moisturizer for day and night as the Loreal Lightening Day Lotion is giving me problems. :( I had 2-3 bouts of inflammation after using it but i'm not sure if its the Loreal or this green clay mask i got from Taiwan that expires in 2008. Anyway, this snow gel is sooooo good it's the best i've tried!! So light with a delicate fragrance it absorbs quickly into the skin, my face feels thoroughly hydrated and brighter it's even better than my expensive Beaute De Kose Emulsion because that was too oily. Ultimate MUST BUY. This range is really expensive though as they use nano technology, gold and many precious herbs. It is a worthy splurge though. If i can, i'll want to get more stuff from the range.

We chalked up a $150+ bill in the end and were entitled to the membership, as well as 2 lucky spins.

Each mask cost $4.50 on its own or 3 for $10. These are my 2 freebies.

I've tried the grape one yesterday and woke up to radiant skin though it feels slightly oily. I heard that the more expensive range of masks is better and got many good reviews from forums, haven't tried but i still feel that Dainty Design masks works better and is cheaper. DD masks from Australia costs only $1 if i purchase online and it hydrates very well, is thick and works super well.

The next day, i went to TFS again wanting to get some eye cream because the Niu Er Cucumber one i bought from Taiwan is not as effective. Due to long hours in front of the computer, sleeping very late and wearing contacts, my eye circles are really bad now every SA from any brand comments on it. :(

White Tree Vita Force Eye Serum $46.90
The Flower Shimmering Pearl Makeup Base/ Highlight with crushed pearls $38.90

The Eye Serum is light and brightening in my opinion, and after using it for 2 days, my eyes feels slightly brighter. Texture is good and easily absorbed.

Okay, this makeup base is expensive but after reading newspapers and magazines (Again, i always listen to them) that preaches about the importance of makeup base over the last 1 year... and that i read that Japanese and Koreans have good skin also because they never skip the makeup base, i got this. I love the shimmery texture and that it doubles up as a highlighter that can be used to make your features more 3D, which I am looking for. It also doubles up as skincare and it's truly a 3-in-1 product and i think its another MUST-BUY because my skin really looks more radiant after using it. Usually, at mid day my makeup will feel dull and my skin feels a bit dry but after using this as well as the Su Hyang Snow gel, my face still looks radiant instead of yellowy dull at mid day!

Copied from TFS website

Concept
The name ‘THE FLOWER’ comes from its ingredients. Made with mineral-enriched edible flowers such as Rose Jasmine Chamomile and more these flower petals have been grinded into micro-pigments with an advanced technology to provide flawless moisturized and luminous skin.

Description
Love the glow on skin? This shimmering makeup base can be used on entire face before foundation to give all-over glow Or can be used as a highlighter on cheekbone nose chin and under-eye to give more lift to a face.

Chalked up an $81.50 bill and got another free spin and got this nail polish!! :D

I'm really loving TFS! Go to the Parkway one if you can because they're really friendly. Other outlets i frequent is the one at Wisma and Bugis. :)

xoxo, la-belle-deva

Verdict: F Cup Cookie

One of Japan's hottest bust enhancement product - F Cup Cookie

That is what I've been eating every morning and night for 2 weeks. It claims to visibly enhance and enlarge the bust after 2 weeks of consumption - 2 cookies per day one for night and one for day, because it contains this soy ingredient called P_ M_ extracted from a plant grown in Thailand. It is supposed to mimic the effects of estrogen and increase bust size. Contains 68.7kcals for 1 day consumption and is highly recommended by Taiwan beauty show - Nu Ren Wo Zhui Da, and even Mel C from Spice Girls is rumored to be taking it.

So i tried, patiently eating the cookie for 2 weeks and really, it tastes rather yummy and buttery nice. However, it is not a cheap try, and one box costs about S$20, and we need 2 boxes for 2 weeks supply. I am skeptical but hopeful throughout, yet i do wonder where the extra 68.7kcal will end up, will it make be fat at the wrong places?

Verdict:
BOOS. :( :( :(
It doesn't work at all!!! I feel fatter at the wrong places instead (thighs, butt, under arms) instead of any improvement to the bust. What a waste of money. If anyone have tried and it works, please share your experience with me.

Skirts makes you (me) feel good

I think skirts and dresses are such the best inventions for women's clothing. They're absolute essentials in the wardrobe and i personally feel that every woman should own at least a dress and a skirt because they make you feel so much more feminine because of the flirty way skirts moves, as compared to pants which are more structured with a harder edge to them than the soft appeal of skirts.

If I have all the money in the world, i'll wish to get these. (All from ASOS UK)

Chiffon Dresses

In Animal Prints :)

Tiny floral prints with a ruffled edge, above knees (ruffles are love)

Ruffled or tiered bottoms

Ruffled sleeves and tiered shaped short dress


Or simple cut dresses with interesting fronts (Bib, ribbons, frills)

Party Dresses

White and Gold, soft lines, A-line bottom

Skirts

Russian cut, with pleats

Anyway, enough of dreaming, they all cost close to hundred or more. But hope you've enjoyed the pictures.

The leggings paired with ankle length boots (oxford boots especially, adds a smart and tougher edge to the softness of a dress) or multi strap pumps look is really fashionable this season..

Oxford Boots (left), Multi strap heeled pumps (right - i'll prefer black, red or pink though)

Actually, as much as magazines and all that try to convince us that we can look good, fashion forward even on a tight budget, i'm not entirely convinced. They define an expensive outfit as one that costs thousands, and a 'budget' outfit as one that costs a few hundred including bag, shoes, dress and all that. :S

I'll love to get oxford boots/multi strap pumps and chiffon dresses this season, paired with black semi-opaque/opaque stockings, they'll look so so good. (See second pic)

That's a christmas fashion wish!

As for now, i better go back to studying for my exams. They're crucial, i only have one chance and i need to grab it now.

Big Apple - yay or nay?

The most important decision of my 21 year old life, work and travel USA, yes or no?

I may be travelling alone, or with two guys from Singapore, one of which is my classmate. I'm too excited to go to New York and this is going to be the biggest decision of my young life, but for now, its a resounding 90% aye!

Imagine, me in Manhatten, Soho, Greenwich, Central Park eating Krispy Kremes and typical American jumbo hotdogs and pretzels, me taking a picture of Stature of Liberty, walking those streets that I've only seen on TV or magazines.. I'm a very happy me thinking about all that. :D

xoxo, (wish me luck or some divine help from God to convince at least one of my gfs to go and i promise to bring pictures of NY, heeeeeart NY!)
la belle deva

** Update (16th Nov): I've submitted my application and its a 'yay' !! I'm so excited i'll spend my December researching for my travel plans :)