White + Rose

Happy Valentine's Day! I recently made a purchase of a vintage sterling silver and turquoise ring on etsy. I had my eye on it for a while because I saw something special in it. I waited until the seller had the Valentine's discount but even then, it was still an expensive purchase. Much to my relief, the seller offered international shipping. Shipping was fairly quick for international. It was less than two weeks, which was great. When I received the ring, it was smaller than what I had imagined but photos tend to make things look larger than what they are. This ring is the first ring in my jewellery collection. I was worried whether the ring would fit me but in the end, it fit perfectly. I don't find DIY ring size matching methods are accurate. The only way you can be certain is to try on rings. Designs can make a ring feel loose or tighter. It certain makes it hard to choose rings online but sometimes you just have to take the risk. If anyone out there intends ...

These are my nail polishes. It is a modest collection that I've accumulated over the years. I've had other nail polish shades I have since thrown out when they had dried up or simply was a fuss to apply. These just happen to be ones I've kept. It was only when I photographed all my nail polishes together that I realised that I had an affinity to certain colours: vampy plums and reds, the subtle neutrals and mauve and polishes leaning towards green or blue. The nail polish I've had for my wish-list for a while is OPI's Russian Navy, which falls into the colour scheme that I've unconsciously set for myself. The oldest nail polish is the Maybelline Colorama in Vampire Seduction, which I actually haven't used in years. I've kept it as reference, I suppose because this was the first nail polish I wore that made me feel empowered. Prior to that, I wore clear nail polish because I was in primary school and it was against uniform. Chanel Rouge Noir was my...

I never thought there'd be a day when I actually have 10 lipsticks at a time. Most of my lipsticks are from the mid-range and high-end brands. Not sure why I don't buy more lipsticks from the pharmacy because they often work just as well. Nevertheless, I do not mind spending a little more money on lipsticks because I reach for them daily. If there was only one makeup item I could only own, it would be a lipstick. 

There's something alluring about vintage compacts. Not everyone gets it. These compacts were used to keep powders in and that was precisely what I intended to do with it. If I was purely in it for the sake of collecting, I'd probably buy them in mint condition, with box and original sifter and puff. I'd imagine someone like Dita Von Teese would carry her powder around in one of these ornate compacts. She probably does. I think it really does add that touch of glamour that makes touching up on powder a little more enjoyable. Particularly when some cheaper high-street makeup doesn't come in sturdy packaging. Of course, compacts aren't limited to Stratton. Kigu and Estee Lauder are just some other brands. There are various guides online that help you date the compact and how to reuse a compact. There are websites out there that offer replacement puffs and sifters too, if using another brand of puff doesn't feel authentic enough. The two compacts I have s...

I have briefly discussed my love for fragrances  here  but for today, I'll share my collection so far. I think my perfume collection is quite modest but I do have more than the average girl. I have a mixture of niche and designer fragrances and one celebrity fragrance. The appeal of niche perfumery is mostly exclusivity - you're not going to smell like the next girl (well, there's less chance you will). If you are deep into the art of perfume, you'd appreciate the unique compositions and the quality that it offers but niche can be a hit-or-miss. They generally are more expensive but you get what you pay for. The fragrances I own are lean towards autumnal. They don't work well for the hotter months, only because some of these scents can be overpowering in the summer. My Fragrance Wardrobe 1. Dior J'adore:  My very first fragrance. A heady sophisticated scent with jasmine and magnolia but there is a subtle sweetness from the melon. I wore this during high ...

It's all about nudes this autumn and winter but darker lips are appropriate for the colder seasons regardless of trends. I opted for a balm-type lipsticks because I'm not ready for the full opaque lip. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 2 Pourpre Intouchable This had a mango scent. I love mango but I'm not loving the scent. I'm partial to the subtle rose scented lipsticks. Out of the two, this is the sheer option in terms of pigmentation. The name roughly translates to 'untouchable purple' and is more of a plum on my lips. It doesn't leave my lips as shrivelled up as Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, so I like this. I just wish I could have the faint rose scent instead of the mango. Dior Addict Lipstick in 991 Perfecto There's a slightly sweet scent with this but I think it's mostly the typical lip balm scent without fragrance added. This offered more pigmentation and is a wine-red, burgundy colour. It is still less intense than an opaque lipstick...

Pulling off a red lip requires confidence. It'll make everything look elegant and refined - whatever you wear. It's a classic that intimidates those who prefer a more subdued lip, like me. I'm quite fond of MLBB (my lips but better) shades and the thought of having a full red lip scares me. If I were to opt for a red lip, I'd go for the sheer formulas like Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo (62) Monte Carlo is a pink-red but it's more of a pink in my books. Pinks are fun and flirty. I can wear pinks just fine but reds intimidate me. There's only one way to wear red lipstick: perfectly. You need precision when you apply a red lip and that means no slathering on straight from the bullet. I searched a few brands for red and settled for Illamasqua's Maneater even though MAC's Russian Red caught my eye first. I adore the matte finishes and Illamasqua is a little less expensive than MAC here, so that's what I sett...

This is a new segment. It serves as a log for my style and its evolution. This can be anything from clothes and accessories to makeup and perfume - things that contribute towards an outfit.  Fragrances had made a mark on me since I was small. My mother has a small collection of perfumes which I wore occasionally as a child. My first perfume was Dior J'adore. I wore it only on special occasions but I wouldn't consider that my signature because I only wore it a couple of times a year. A signature fragrance is one that you want people to associate with you and it hints something about your personality. It's not one that goes along with fashion but it reflects your style. If you wear it frequently enough, people will begin to associate that scent with you. My signature fragrance was Annick Goutal's Petite Cherie EDT. I loved it for a while but I've felt a need for change. It's definitely a scent for a girl but not deep enough for woman. Another reason for the ...