D.I.Y. Studded Heels

Inspired by Michelle from Kingdom of Style who came up with her DIY version of fierce Balmain studded shoes, I popped into Far East Plaza to scout for studded anything to do my take.

As much as I'd love to devote an entire afternoon to applying real studs (too permanent for me) or measuring and altering a studded belt (just too lazy), I wanted something really versatile and painless. Scored a bunch of really cheap faux leather pyramid stud bracelets, with push-stud closures - they were "buy 1 get 1 free" too ;)

As promised... here's the full lowdown on my weekend handiwork and test-runs on various different shoes:

with my basic everyday pumps...

with my Georgina Goodman satin Harriet stilettos...

with Finsk midi boots that I wore last night (also shown: B's great Zara score!)

again with the Georgina Goodman stilettos... this time with an extra bracelet at the ankle!

For more inspiration, here are some other bloggers' DIY attempts using boot straps and belts:

Thrown (Not Fallen) Off the Cart

I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to all my bag-obsessed gal pals (and their husbands) for pushing them deeper into debt...

BAG ALERT: Alexander Wang's coco duffle aka "That Mary-Kate Studded Bag" is now available limited pre-order at US$895 (here).

I'm completely in love with studs right now so even I'm tempted. Enjoy :)

Ah the Weekend...

Lots of loveliness this weekend:

(i) A Winter's Tale with my long time love Ethan Hawke *swoon*;

(ii) House's Black Flea Market is back this Sunday 11am - 6pm at 8D Dempsey Road;

(iii) test run D.I.Y studded black boots - more on this soon; and

(iv) continue running Lovers In Japan by Coldplay in my ipod so I can re-imagine the falling butterfly confetti :) Best. Concert. Ever

Mad Lust : alldressedup

After a meeting in Orchard Road this morning, I made the mistake of wandering into local label alldressedup's section at Isetan Scotts.

Madness ensued as I went on a necklace-trying rampage. How could I not when the entire SS09 accessories collection contained my favourite ruffles, pleats, ruffles and RUFFLES!!
I am so desperately coveting the dreamy blue suede piece (above, S$178) so I can wear it with these mighty fine Finsk shoes:

According to Vogue UK, all the suede necklaces can be put through a 40-degree wash without falling to bits. Now, none of the staff mentioned this at the store so this means the necklaces certainly deserve a second look :)

Great Minds Think Alike?

Same season, similar look : Two different well-regarded designers (above, Dries Van Norton ; below, Georgina Goodman)

Anyway, I'm not particularly loving either style.

Cuppa Tea, Love?

Back to brooches again... which are one of my favourite accessories as they're usually a relatively inexpensive way to update a bag, blouse, jacket or cardigan.  

Right now, I'm very much charmed with these teatime inspired ceramic clay pieces from Melbourne-based Vanilla Bug. 

The milk carton is just so adorable! For a conversation-starter, I'd go for the tea-bag & tag brooch, both gently weighing in at AU$30 and AU$40 respectively. 

Of course if you're completely undecided (or have a bunch of pals who like different pieces), the designer sells the whole lot (including the teaspoon necklace and doily brooch) for AU$120 - that's a decent AU$30 discount!

B.R. / A.R. : Black Leather Backpack

I seem to be going through a spat of Chanel baglust of late: Not for those plastic framed ones at the FW09 show, but this delicious quilted backpack!

No word on the price but it's likely to be prohibitively expensive, which I know is partially what makes it *special*. Also, this is a very youthful style so I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of it once I move past my Alexa Chung period.

That said, I'd still be tempted to mug a privileged youth if I saw them totting their books around in the Chanel ;)

In the meanwhile, I'm considering these alternatives:

Tiffany & Co - US$475

Jerome Dreyfuss - US$1,095.00
(which at that price, one is better off saving for the Chanel)

M.S. by Martine Sitbon - US$200 (on sale!)

Something For the Boys

NYC fashion label Opening Ceremony has launched their menswear line at Uniqlo UK's online store! Opening Ceremony, a concept retail space supporting emerging designers, previously unfolded a very successful shoe line which was seen on Gossip Girl's Blake Lively.

Credit card in hand, I've already shortlisted a bunch of clean-cut, preppy plaid shirts in cheerful blues, greens and pinks - all of which would not look out of place in my own wardrobe...

Feel free to oh-so-casually forward your man the link :)

Picture Perfect

Vanity Fair has just outdone itself - I am so in love their tribute to West Side Story. This modern casting is so fantastic, it's got me actually liking J.Lo!

I'm glad they didn't use obvious choices like Zac Efron as Tony to sell more issues. Instead, major IT-boy (heard of Robert Pattinson?) was relegated to a tiny role (in our madly follicled friend's case, just a normal Jet).

Fantastic Four's Chris Evans leads the Jets, and is joined by Prince Caspian's Ben Barnes and Camille Belle as lovelorned Tony and Maria, Rodrigo Santoro as Bernardo, alongside Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical), Brittany Snow (Lily Van Der Woodsen in the new Gossip Girl spin-off & Hairspray), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) and Jay Hernandez as assorted Jets/Sharks.

West Side Story is my all time favourite musical movie so I'm just going to drool over each portrait and pretend someone's going to put VF's ensemble on stage/screen.

Full slideshow at Vanity Fair.

Sightings : Singapore in Street Fashion Blogs

I pretty much stalk The Sartorialist, Face Hunter and Garance Dore daily - I just love seeing what people out there are wearing... So it was great to find another excellent street fashion blog : Easy Fashion in Paris

What I like about this site are the little "interviews" about that they're wearing (including scents) and what they like/hate. Plus there's a decent mix of Asian faces - primarily Japanese folks, but I did chance upon this one of Noelle Loh of ST Urban rockin' the military St Pepper look and some really amazing two-tone Repettos!


This totally trumps the snap of Zouk's PR manager Tracy Phillips sometime back on Face Hunter cos that was Singapore-based feature and she is seen out and about quite a bit like that...

D.I.Y. or Death

Seeing how I've completely exhausted my monthly shopping budget, I'm stalking the internet for D.I.Y. fashion options. This is a pretty clever way to make your regular black boots on-trend - ala Rumi from Fashion Toast:


Stay tuned for my D.I.Y. efforts in the coming month or so. In the meanwhile, if anyone would like to participate in my new "Nicholas Kirkwood-For-My-30th" charity, I'd be very grateful:

This has ME written all over it!

I had actually swung by On Pedder over the weekend to check out their addition of Nicholas Kirkwood and was:

(a) surprised that there were three (yes, only three) styles available;

(b) disappointed that of the three options, one was a plain python pump and didn't interest me, the other was his famous buckle platforms (below, in fabulous blue) but in Light. Taupe. Suede. which basically spells Death by 98% Humidity;

(c) the only one available which was a worthwhile buy was, IMHO, hardly the most covetable of his SS09 collection (below); and


(c) somewhat horrified they relegated Nicholas to the bottom shelf - I had to double-scan all the shelves before I finally spotted his signature platform soles.  No one puts Kirkwood on bottom shelf!  

Sigh... back to staking out Browns and counting down to their sale.