White + Rose

Spring has me in a reflective mood, and I've thought about why I started this blog in the first place. When I started this blog, I was particularly interested in alternative fashions because I loved the idea of fashion being a form of expression and a big statement. I especially loved the DIY aspect of Japanese street trends, either reconstructing old to new or from new materials. I also enjoyed watching the trends but I liked the idea of creating your own image more. It was almost like a rebellion on what was conventional: I choose exactly how I look, rather than being told how I should look. Nevertheless, I was plagued with thoughts of how I should look, and a lot of it was what I saw on TV, magazines and on the internet. You may have noticed that I rarely posted outfits, and I had to muster up the courage to post up anything I had. I never liked my body, but I think over the years, I've grown comfortable with it being my own. Ever since I could remember, I was repuls...

It's been a while since I've been on model watch, but I saw this month's Vogue Australia article on Adut Akech and thought she's absolutely stunning, and one to watch on the runways. These days, I think it's pretty common for models to have a following on instagram and you can access it here .

Some of my favourite pieces of jewellery are captured in this photo above. From as long as I can remember, I was a bit of a magpie and instantly drawn to whatever glimmered and sparkled. I also had a fascination with the natural world around me and the heavens above. A lot of these pieces have stories attached to them, and some I have posted here on this blog before. They are still loved dearly and worn when I can. The piece I've had the longest is the white gold studs, a gift from my aunt when I was 18. Newest piece is the bee necklace, to mark the end of my Masters. Most of these pieces are relatively inexpensive, as they are sterling silver, or gold-plated silver, or just gold-toned as in the case of those bangles. I know that my taste in certain looks will shift over time, but this photo captures the style I currently enjoy: simple and dainty or bohemian.

This is yet another Wool and the Gang pattern I've completed. You can find the pattern for the crown hat here free of charge on their website.  This particular hat was a collaboration with Vivienne Westwood. She's one of the designers I admire. I thought I'd tackle it because I had an extra skein of Crazy Sexy Wool, which I intended to use for a different hat, and some extra yarn left over from my  Wonderwool sweater . Wool and the Gang is a great source of knitting projects, yarns and tools for the beginner or novice, or even the occasional knitter who wants to do a knit-along. However, if you are a thrifty knitter, you might find these patterns and yarns aren't worth your money because they are a little overpriced. They have a very "designer" look that would fit right into instagram, and you really do pay for the convenience of knitting kits. Wool and the Gang also released a video tutorial on their channel, so if you were at the very beginning of you...

Ten years ago, the first instalment of the Twilight Saga series of movies was released. It sparked my interest in Ruth Cross because Bella's Long Cable Mittens came from this designer. Ruth Cross had since closed her store for ready-to-wear and made-to-order knits but released this pattern afterwards. Unfortunately, the website ruthcross.com is no longer up (it was still up a few months ago) and I'm unsure how you will be able to obtain the pattern. There was an influx of copycat patterns after the release of the film. Nancy Fry's pattern is arguably the closest to the original pattern, as it is knitted flat and stitched together. I used Subliminal Rabbit's pattern the first time, which was already a huge learning experience because I had to learn how to knit cables, knit in the round, increase/decrease stitches. Prior to that, I only just for the hang of knitting stockinette scarves without accidentally decreasing or increasing stitches. On the rare occasion, ...

I've been using Bourjois' Healthy Mix line since three years ago. As I'm about to finish my old bottle of Healthy Mix (in 52 Vanilla, my summer shade), I thought I'd make this post. The Healthy Mix line comes highly recommended in the beauty community as an affordable high-street foundation. I'd argue that I prefer this foundation over the mid-range brands I've tried: NARS Sheer Glow, Too Faced Born This Way, MAC Studio Fix Fluid and Laura Mercier Silk Creme. I just think you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a decent foundation these days, and there are frequent promotions in pharmacies, so you could save your money for something else, like an eyeshadow palette. I first used the serum foundation, and I wasn't a fan of it. It offered a slightly dewy finish and light-medium coverage: the coverage was perfect for summer but the dewiness wasn't made to last in hot weather, especially for someone with a slightly oily T-zone. I later tried th...

This is not a new release, but I began to take beauty seriously back in 2014. That is when I discovered Sali Hughes and her In the Bathroom  series. With the release of Pretty Honest, I was very excited and eager to have my hands on a copy. I've had this book over a few years now, so here's my review on it. Prior to this, I had never come across 'coffee table books'. Frankly, whatever is on the coffee table is what I'm reading in bed, and it happens to be Tolstoy's War and Peace. Sitting right next to it would be my phone, playing A Year of War and Peace , the podcast. The chapters are short enough and within a year, I'll have read the book, a chapter a day. In any case, I'm not much of a reader of beauty and fashion, or anything with impressive pictures to look at. Pretty Honest is what you'd dub a coffee table book and it'll look equally as fitting on a dressing table. Just don't put it near your makeup because if you smear anythi...

It's been a while since I've written something for someone else's eyes. When I started this blog, I was fascinated with alternative fashions but over time, my tastes have changed. There are periods where I'm simply uninspired by clothes and trends. Sometimes, I want to wear the same things over and over again because I love what I have. Here's the story of the state of my wardrobe: Marie Kondo's popular method prompted me to spend half a day going through all of my clothing and sorting out what I wanted to keep from the items I could farewell (clothes that only fit my 13-year-old self; cheap Shein garments I never wore but purchased on a whim). I also re-evaluated my consumer habits. Quality garments such as coats and jeans are worth splurging on. I'd appreciate it if it were sustainable and ethically made but I'm not that committed to buying from brands that market themselves as such. Instead, I'm more inclined to consider preowned items (such as ...