Living room tour.

Quite a few of you have been asking for a house tour! Since I did an update to my living room recently, I thought I would start with a tour of one of our favorite rooms. :)

Backstory: for Chinese New Year this year, I decorated our living hall in a myriads of Oriental prints and colors like red, yellow, blue and pink. I am honestly SUCH a procrastinator, 'cause we have been living with our CNY decor for the past few months. *sheepish* 

Finally, I decided enough is enough, and took down our CNY decor plus did some minor updates here and there to keep our hall looking fresh yet still cozy!

Presenting the place we hang out the most as a family... *drumroll* 


Decided to go for a more neutral, soothing color palette this time! Before this, our living room was really colorful for Christmas and Chinese New Year haha.


We have quite a few chairs/ stools lying around 'cause we like to host our friends/ family over. :)

Let's zoom into some of my favorite details...



As mentioned before this, we need to have a lot chairs in our hall as we host quite often. As opposed to placing more sofas/ armchairs, I prefer lightweight seats that can be moved around! So that our guest can be mobile and choose to move to the balcony, dining area, hall etc.

I love this Tobias chair from Ikea-- because it is transparent, it doesn't look obstructive and kind of "opens up" the space. 'Cause I can imagine it would look quite odd to have many chairs in the living room, but this is so discreet, it's almost as if it is not there! It also adds a touch of modernity to the room. :)



I love the ideas of greenery in our house! Unfortunately, I have the antithesis of a green thumb. -_- No joke, I have killed 6 cactus plants in my life before WTF. My solution? Artificial plants *blows nails*

I got this Fejka one, and placed it in a rattan basket. The whole house instantly looked a lot more homey!



Soooo... This is actually a bedside table (Hemnes from Ikea) HAHA. I know it is a little unconventional, but it actually works perfectly for us as a side table!

I love how it displays our vintage-looking speaker so nicely. In the drawer, we keep some of our hall necessities like batteries (for remote controls), tape etc.



When we hang out in the living hall watching movies or chatting, sometimes we lose track of time! So it is imperative to have a clock out on display. This Skovel one works well for us. Instead of hanging it on the wall, we got a clock stand (you can find it in a watch/ clock shop) and perch the clock on it. :)



I love love love this gold side table I got from Australia. YES, I lugged back a table from Australia hahaha. And in the frame is our wedding invite illustration! I still get all kinds of feels when I look at it heh.

I highly recommend getting a decorative side table, and display things according to your mood! You can always change things around, and it keeps things looking fresh. :) You can try a similar one from Ikea like this Gladom model (it comes in a few colors too!).



If I can give only one tip to instantly jazz up a room-- it is to get a carpet/ rug!!

Best way EVER to instantly add a homey touch, and also make the space look so much more inviting. I got this Lappljung one 'cause the prints are very interesting, yet the monochrome hues make it easy to match different decor. :)



This Tejn fur rug adds on such a cozy factor to our home! Depending on my mood, sometimes I like to drape it over chairs, or layer it with rugs on the floor.

Bonus: It makes a great background for Instagram flatlay HAHAHA.



Other than the sofa and coffee table, a TV console/ bench is probably the most vital part of a living room!

We like one with storage capacity-- we keep all the unsightly things inside to keep the room looking neat. Definitely recommend the Mostorp!



We watch TV in our living room, and it can get chilly sometimes with the aircond on. A Hermine throw is the perfect solution! It feels so cozy to snuggle under a throw and watch our favorite shows. :)



I like displaying a tray on our coffee table-- other than decorative purposes, it is also a great way to neatly "store" your necessities like remote controls, tissue etc. This Romantisk one is big enough for me to display quite a few things in it.



If you can't tell, I love my cushions!! They are such a fun way to add some colors and print and FUN into your space. :D I got a matching one with our rug 'cause I love the prints THAT much.



Other than our bedroom, we spend the most time in the living hall! So it is really important for us to make it look and feel comfy. :) And it should feel really inviting to guests too! I guess our home will always be a work-in-progress for me haha.



Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy my living room tour! Please let me know if you would like to see more posts like this. :)

This post is written in collaboration with Ikea Malaysia.

Post-wedding shoot: Part II

Hi everyone, I am back with the second part of our post-wedding shoot! You can read about Part I here.

As mentioned in Part I, it started raining 20 minutes into our shoot. T_T We still persevered with the first look (the gown you see in the previous post), but by the time we lugged back all the props into our condo (in the rain, no less!), hubby and I were already feel quite down and frankly speaking, exhausted. Dejected, I actually suggested to just call it a day. 'Cause the rain was really quite a mood-dampener, and I felt bad for putting hubby through it.

Thank god he and our photographer (I love you, Jane!) were incredibly supportive and encouraged me to go on with the shoot. If not you won't be able to see the beautiful photos below. T_T

As usual, ENJOY!





I actually never got to wear a veil for my wedding. *sniff*

Long story, but I wasn't allowed to for my ROM (as hubby was in mourning), and we didn't have enough time during the wedding reception for me to change into my white dress. So this photo is actually more meaningful to me than you know... :')


Crystals and lace Valentinos.


I got these crowns a few years ago, always intending to use it in my engagement shoot!





For my second look, I wore my white gown (the same one I wore for my ROM!); and for my third look, I went for an ice blue embellished short dress. I originally intended to wear this short dress for dancing during the wedding reception, but I found another dress instead, HAHA. Story of my life! :P


One closed eyes, one looking at camera, one looking at dunno where. *sweat*


LOOK AT THE DETAILS OF THIS DRESS!

The base is very structured organza, with a french lace overlay, and then covered with more lace patchings, lattice lace and floral appliqué... EXQUISITE.

I got this from a bridal shop at the Wedding Street in Guangzhou by the way-- it was love at first sight!


Giggling away 'cause look at my stupid dog-- facing the wrong side to the camera as usual!!





My custom gown came with detachable tulle off-shoulder sleeves (can be worn as capsleeves as well). For my ROM, I wore it strapless. :)


Big love for this candid shot!


DERP!!!


OMG this dog still facing his butt to the world... *face palm*


Loving my rustic bouquet for the day. :)




By the way, you might notice that I am wearing my Sophia Webster heels without the ankle straps here... I lost one side of the strap while we were shooting for the first look. T____T I told you it was quite an episode setting up and shooting (and packing up!) in the rain!

Does anyone know where I can find some silver ankle straps? T___T


The back of my gown. I wish I have more more photos of the details on my dress! *wails*









That's all for our post-wedding shoot! It was incredibly fun to do it-- even if I *almost* didn't go through with the entire shoot. Pretty sad that it is over, but I am working my charms on persuading hubby to do an anniversary shoot each year... *wide-eyed innocence* HAHA!

PS: I will be blogging about ALL the planning and details of my wedding after this, hope you guys enjoy it! :)

Travel #OOTD 101-- What to wear when you travel?

Hi everyone! Someone asked me recently:

"Where do you get inspiration from on what to wear when traveling to a particular country, during a particular season?"

 Hence, today, I will share some tips for travel outfits! :D

I do love to  dress up on holidays; in fact, planning holiday outfits is probably one of my favorite things to do, haha! Often, it builds up the anticipation to your trip, and if you read on, you will find out why it teaches you to be disciplined in planning your trip too. ;) Whilst comfort is important during travels, I have to confess, I will never be a T-shirt and jeans girl. So it is really about balancing looking cute and being at ease on your holiday. :)

I have to clarify though, I put care into my holiday outfits not 'cause I am "doing it for the gram" (i.e. for the sake of having nice pictures on social media). To me, dressing up during my holidays is a little more emotional than that. Let's face it, we can't afford to go to Paris or NYC every year; and the only thing we have left to savor after our trip is our photos. Beautiful images can transport us back to a certain time and place, where the emotions run so vividly... Imagine looking at a photo of you in a poofy tulle skirt with Eiffel Tower behind you, versus you in a baggy tee and jeans with the same magnificent backdrop-- which one tugs at your heart strings more?

Also, wearing a pretty outfit suited to a particular destination really puts you in the mood of your travel adventures. Using the same example of the tulle skirt, imagine swishing your way down the cobbled pathways of Paris, while buskers play "La Envie Rose" in the background... This kind of moments make you feel ALIVE and BLESSED to be right at that spot, right at that moment. :) Or imagine wearing an oriental-inspired dress while weaving in and out the corners of Forbidden City-- I guarantee you that you will feel so much connected to the rich culture and history that is surrounding you.

That, is the power of dressing up. :)

TO START

The first step of planning your holiday outfits is a step you have to take irregardless-- planning your travel itinerary. Ideally, your itinerary will include sites and places you want to see, as well as any restaurants/ cafes that you want to try. Chances are, you will probably do some research on these places, and hence have a good idea of how they look (along with other details such as weather, activities (e.g. hiking will require certain gears).

With the knowledge of your destination spots (and how they look like), here are some tips to ensure breezy planning of your travel OOTD:

1) Match your environment

This is fairly straightforward-- just match the color of your outfit to the color of the destination spot. Somehow, monochrome images look really striking!


One of my favorite pictures from NYC.


Bali. Shop similar lemon print dress here.

You don't necessarily have to buy a new outfit just to match your surroundings, but if you happen to own/ have brought along something that can match a particular spot, it may be worthwhile to wear it during your visit! :)


Bali. Backless crochet lace dress from AZORIAS.

Green and blue destinations (think Santorini or beach destinations in general) generally go really well with blue, green and white outfits.


Osaka.

Also, you don't have to wear the exact same color. Wearing colors of the same family will work too! I went to Japan recently during hanami season, and brought along some pastel outfits to complement the pink surroundings. :)


Ruffled toga blouse from AZORIAS.


2) Contrast with your environment

 It may not be possible to match your environment all the time, so you can consider to CONTRAST with it!


In Toledo, Spain. Wearing bright yellow against brown bricks make the photo pop more. :)

Conversely, if your backdrop is very bright in color, you can wear something dark to contrast against it:


Wearing black in Fushimi Inari, Osaka recently.

For backdrops which are very chaotic and "noisy"-- just imagine cities like Hong Kong and Shibuya, you can consider to clash with prints:


Print on print against Dotonburi, Osaka.


Bali. Baroque crochet lace fringed skirt from AZORIAS.


3) Adopt the fashion of the country

Different countries have different styles and fashions trends, and it will make you feel like part of their culture if you dress like one of them.


For example, I always think of stripes when I think of Paris, as demonstrated by Jing here.


You can also go the extra mile and don the traditional costume HAHA.


Or maybe something less drastic... ;) For instance, I wore a obi belt to Japan recently-- paying a subtle homage to the country, but yet still dressing in my own style. :)

There are tonnes of style inspiration we can get from different countries, so get inspired! For example, for Harajuku, Japan, you can go crazy and clash prints and colors. For Paris...




...I think of polka-dots...


... and stripes...


... and berets!


Be inspired by the gondoliers, and wear stripes in Venice, Italy! Jing is wearing Ruby red midi full skirt from AZORIAS.


4) When in doubt, wear red

I realized that most of my absolute favorite travel photos are of me in red!


NYC. Email customerservice@azorias.com to pre-order this dress.


Madrid, Spain. Dramatic bow-back dress from AZORIAS.


NYC. This is also an example of getting inspired by the country-- the red and blue star print really reinforces the fact that I was going to U-S-A!

There is just something about red that is so dramatic and eye-catching, and really make your travel photos extra memorable. :) If you don't believe me, please check out one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Gary Pepper Girl:





(I used Gary Pepper Girl in a lot of the example photos because her style is really simple, and I want to show that even very simple dressing (in the right colors) can make a huge impact.)


5) Stick to black and white

If you are not into colors, and prefer good ol' black and white; fret not, because they work really well for travels too!


Barcelona, Spain. Organza layered skirt dress from AZORIAS.


NYC. Sakura embroidered tulle dress from AZORIAS.


Bangkok, Thailand. Broderia anglaise dress from AZORIAS.


Bali. Off-shoulder eyelet dress from AZORIAS.

Again, if you don't believe me, let's look at some other examples (for consistency's sake, I am still using Gary Pepper Girl haha):









Again, you will notice that even the simplest outfits in solid black and white can make a huge impact in photos. :)

6) Consider culture and climate

Sometimes, we may travel to countries or destinations which are more conservative, for example, Middle-Eastern countries, or even religious sites such as mosques or temples. In this case, it would be respectful to wear something more modest.



Not the best photo, but here is Jing and I at the Vatican City, Rome, whereby it was a requirement to cover up. I had a sleeveless dress underneath, but covered up with a knee-length trenchcoat, whereas Jing wore a long-sleeved top and knee-length skirt, and covered her neckline with a pashmina.


If all else fails, you can always cover up with a statue #OOTD like Teeny HAHAHA.

Another thing to consider is climate/ weather. This means not wearing sweaters to a beach, fur coats during summer, or sandals in cold weather. It may seem like a no-brainer, but it still surprises me to see people wearing knee-high boots in our tropical climate. It may look cool in the magazines, but in our weather, it looks quite silly, and I can imagine, quite uncomfortable.

In fact, there are finer details to consider. For example, don't wear tropical/ Hawaiian prints during winter-- it's not wrong per se, but it does look pretty odd. Avoid straw/ beach hats too during winter! It looks quite funny; a beret or knitted beanie may be a better bet. Fur, even just a little trimmings, also look out of place at a tropical setting. There is no right or wrong to this, but you can use a bit of common sense to make your judgement. :)


Tropical prints look best against a tropical setting, no pun intended. Waist cutout maxi dress from AZORIAS.

7) Dress up

Ironically, I tend to dress up even more when I am traveling. It almost feels like an alternate universe when I travel-- with no worries, troubles, and tonnes of adventures ahead-- so I want to dress like I am meant for that. I save my biggest skirts, my most colorful ensembles, craziest accessories for my holidays. :D

Remember, when you are overseas, no one knows you! So you can be even bolder and more creative in your outfits. Just go crazy and have fun!


Email customerservice@azorias.com to preorder this dress.

I wore this low V-cut tulle dress with sequined stars all over it in New York recently. Back home, I would probably save this dress for a fancy evening or wedding dinner, but I wore it out for a leisure stroll along Brooklyn Bridge, curious wandering around Brooklyn, and a casual lunch to top it off. But guys, I felt so BEAUTIFUL in this dress. I had pictures of the light streaming through the tulle and bouncing off the sequined stars while I was walking down Brooklyn Bridge, and it looked magical. We found an ornate gold carousel in a glasshouse, and I felt whimsical and playful around it. I received so many compliments from strangers on this day, and I honestly felt like I was on top of the world. When I looked back on this day, it was just filled with good vibes and a happy rush. Fashion is emotional, and I can testify to that. :)

8) Be YOU

Lastly, I remind you to just do and wear whatever you want. If comfort is your jam, then go with the jeans and sneakers! There are still ways to inject some fun into your outfit-- for example, as mentioned above, wearing a beret with your jeans and sneakers in Paris. The above tips are just some guidelines/ suggestions to think out of the box when it comes to your travel outfits. :)

I hope you find this post useful and as much fun as I had writing it! You can drop me any style-related questions (with work, travel, daily, date nights, events etc.), and I will try my best to answer them! :)