Fashion for Mummy: Playing with colours in your outfits!

Happy mid-week Mummies!

I have done up another fashion-related post, this time on outfits and accessories :)

Have you ever wondered how to mix and match your accessories with outfits?

Do you love loud, happy colours but are afraid of going wrong?

If you have read Estelle's and Michelle's fuss-free makeup tips on Singapore Mom Bloggers, it is now time to complete the look with the right outfits!

 

In this post, I will talk about how to play with colours that will not make you look like you belong to the circus.

 

Firstly, we can take reference from the Colour Wheel to know what are the warm vs cool colours.

 

 

 

You can then decide whether you wanna do opposites:

ie. Direct opposite of Orange would be Blue.

Direct opposite of Red would be Green, etc.

 

 

 

Examples of Direct Opposite coloured outfits:

 

.

.

.

Or you can do random pairing - pick a random colour you like (my favourite colour in the world is blue), and clash it with a bright coloured accessories like a statement necklace, shoes or bag.

 

 

In the following example, I paired electric blue with bright yellow:

Navy dress with the same bright yellow accessories:

.

.

.



Otherwise, you can also do partnering of the side-by-side colours: Pink and Violet.

 

.

.

.

 

 

Another random pairing, which is marrying Electric blue with pink.

 

.

.

.

 

 

How about another example of Opposites - Red and Blue.

 

.

.

.

 

 

You can also do the same side colours (Cool and cool; warm and warm)

 

Example of Cool and Cool outfit: Green and blue.

.

.

.

.

 

Last but not least, you can also stick to all-time classic neutrals: black, white, beige, camel.

Black on gold.

White on camel shoes and bag, topped with gold necklace and bangle.

There you go. I hope you found this post useful in helping you decide on your daily coordinates.
Remember, colours can be fun! Especially for Moms, colours are the way of life.
Too bad I don't have a daughter to play dress-up and coordinate with but alas!

 

And lastly, a parting shot :)

 

 

Mummy me-time: my bag and shoe addiction.

Before I became a Mum, and way before I even became my husband's girlfriend (last time, we call em Steady, LOLS), I had a hobby of buying designer goods like bags, small leather goods, and sometimes random pieces of clothing like scarves and such.

During those days, I'm not sure if you are familiar with Jean Paul Gaultier (aka JPG, the designer, not a photo file extension!), Chantal Thomass, and Sonia Rykiel. Are these people still alive??!

Remember the signature V logo (Valentino) wallet??

And Ferragamo head bands/ hair clips... Roflsssss

Oh how Valentino and Ferragamo have evolved over the decades.

Liking higher end fashion was something I would say I was born with.

Why do I say that?

My parents are normal folk who don't buy designer goods as they wont understand why theres a need to spend thousands of dollars on something which can be bought at 1/10 of the price at Metro, so there's no way I would have inherited anything LV or Chanel from them.

My younger brothers also do not fancy designer brands. Guys being guys, as long as it looks good and is priced good, they will buy.

So other than "being born with it" like an unexplained congenital disease, I don't know  how else to describe my incessant want for high end goods.

I started out with high street brands like JPG, Chantal Thomass during my sec school days, and moved on to brands like Balenciaga and LV when I got older and more spending power.

Then I moved on to even higher end brands like Chanel and subsequently (unfortunately or not :P), Hermes.

From my years of buying and selling bags and accessories, I've come to the realization that Hermes holds her value the most, for the longest period of time.

I've bought and sold several H bags along the way, and they almost always manage to break even my cost or sometimes even make a small profit.

 

 

Allow me to share some pieces from my humble collection.

 

Clean white sheets and orange boxes make my day.

My first Birkin - a gold 30cm with PHW.



I got her for my birthday last year and my heart skips a beat when I look at her pictures now.
I've since sold her because I'm finding the gold difficult to match most of my outfits and I prefer colours, but the special feeling of buying your first B lingers :) 

Hermes scarf with a pack of knotting cards which the SA threw in for me. Sometimes it is not available so I am stoked!

 

Hermes 90x90cm scarf worn as a halter at W resort during our staycation last year.

 



Lindy 34 in Rouge Garrance with my Clover charm.

Outfit of the day throwback:
Grey top with red macaw details.
Levis jeans
Ferragamo peeptoes
Hermes Lindy in Rouge Garrance.

Outfit of the day:
Leopard hearts top from random shop
Mango MNG chilli red cigarette pants
Charlotte Olympia kitty flats with red trimmings and glasses.
Hermes Evelyne GM in Etoupe

What I wore one day:
Cheong Moschino Barbie tee from Carousell
Hermes Garden Party in white
Hermes Oran slippers in white.

All white-and-pink err day.
 

Shoes of the day:
Valentino yellow rockstuds paired with my yellow blouse and culottes which I got from a boutique at United Square level 1.
Went there for kiddy stuff but ended up buying clothes for myself too.



Soufre Toolbox 26



Hubby calls my TB the Ugly Duckling bag especially when paired with my yellow Valentino rockstuds.. But don't care :P

I really like how lightweight Swift leather is, and it holds a ton without weighing down on your shoulder. The amazon strap length is just nice, not like the Lindy 34 strap is slightly too long.
Initially, I didn't really like the toolbox. Hubby said it looks funny and I think it looks like MacDonald's Happy Meal box, but after I got it, I start loving it more and more for its practicality.

One fine day, while browsing my favourite www.deluxemall.com, the stars aligned and I found my perfect little pink bag.
My Miss Yellow ugly duckling with little Miss Tosca Birkin 30.

Hermes picotin 18 (smallest) with horseshoe charm.

Purchases from H boutique in Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, when the AUD fell to an all-time low against SGD. It was my lucky day!

 

Tips for buying Hermes in Singapore:

- You're better off buying from reputable resellers like Luxlexicon, Ciaciasg.hermes and Jael99 on Instagram, than trying to play the quota game of buying small goods at the boutiques and being put on an infinite wait list.

 

 

- (cont'd from point above...) Unless of course, you really like the small accessories like CDCs, charms and clic clacs and don't mind buying them from the boutique to build up your profile.

Sometimes, CDCs and Rodeos are much cheaper in boutiques than from resellers who mark up the price to sky high amount.

When I was in Brisbane, I saw they had some lizard KDTs and Kelly dogs available which would be much cheaper after 10% tax rebate + low AUD exchange rate than if you were to buy from resellers here.

It's really a matter of being at the right place at the right time!

 

 

- Once, I walked into a boutique asking for Lindy in size 30 (as I already have one in 34). The SA told me no shipment lately so I ended up buying other stuff. Before she was about to wrap them up, she said "Oh, maybe I have something in the back room which may interest you" and popped out a Lindy 30 in Feu.

This is how H boutiques work. The quota game suck, but you still go back wanting for more >_<

 

 

- Join www.purseforum.com and read up on the Hermes authentication threads to learn how to tell the authentic engraving and blind stamps from the fake.

 

 

- Some resellers mark up like crazy, so always do your homework on www.deluxemall.com and Carousell to know the different prices charged by different sellers.

 

 

- Don't go in debt buying these stuff. Remember, you can never out-chase fashion!

Spend within your means after you have sorted out the big ticket things already: your own home, children's education monies, and invariable expenses that you cannot escape from every month like eg. maid salary, enrichment classes, tuition, bills etc.
It's also important to set aside some savings for variable expenses like spoilt electronics, car servicing and repair, holidays.

 

 

- Lastly, these bags are only material.

I can't say the same for your children, but I do know mine will lean on my bags, step on my footwear (my first and ever pair of Chanel Aloha slippers had the petals fall off due to said children stepping on them when they learn to walk), and they aren't the most careful beings in the universe.

But it's Ok for me because I'm not one who will over-pamper my stuff like bringing a bag cover or bag hanger when going out for meals / gatherings etc.

 

 

 

If you have any expert advise on shopping which I have missed out/ don't know, please kindly email me or leave a feedback :)

Ok la, that's all before I log off and go for dinner with my family.

 

I still have photos from our Tokyo and Gold Coast trip I haven't uploaded, not to mention blogging about Ashton turning THREE. I am soooooo backlogged.

 

 

Disclaimer: this post is meant to be part of the Fashion/ Beauty posts run by Singapore Mom Bloggers (SMB) community which I belong to, and is in no way meant to represent any brand or company. All photos belong to me and objects featured in photos belong to my personal collection and are not for resale. Usage of my photos without permission is not allowed.

 

 

[Recommendation] One-stop furniture resource website in Singapore.

Good day Mummies and Daddies!
If you're on the search for children's furniture, second-hand furniture, or any kind of furniture, for the matter, I have a website to share with you.

When we first got the keys to our home, we had a long time sourcing for affordable yet good-quality furniture. Andy and I would drive to different industrial areas on weekends to look for the furniture we want, take photos, and compare prices.

 

Some photos of our crib when it was first done up:

A result from sourcing and buying from all different furniture shops *sweats*

If we had known of FurnitureSingapore.net back then, our lives would've been made easier!

 

From main page, click on View All Listings for the full list of resources. There's also a link to Buy Children's Furniture in Singapore.

Some of the relevant links on FurnitureSingapore.net to us parents would be their Children's furniture link (from the main page, click on View All Listings) and Where to find cheap furniture link.
So if you're like me and think only IKEA has affordable furniture in Singapore, you'll be in for a surprise!
Their children furniture link shows shops for all price range - from cheap to the Atas (high class), and you will be thrilled by the wide selection of colourful single beds/ bunk beds/ storage shelves/ study tables available.

I've browsed through FurnitureSingapore.net and find that it is a useful one-stop website that lets you do some research and browsing of price range before heading down to make your purchase.
This will be very time-saving and cost-effective as you know you won't be doing hit-and-miss like we did when we were furnishing our first home.

For example, I especially like Piccolo House for their stylish and affordable children furniture which is brilliant if you're seeking to build a Montessori-themed bedroom for the tods.

Clean, white Montessori-style furniture or themed, colourful ones, your little tykes will be spoilt for choice!

Setting up a Montessori-style bedroom for your children. Idea adapted from blog.thebump.com , and fellow Mummy blogger Lynn.

Hope you found this website useful to you, and Happy long weekend.
Selamat Hari Raya to all our Muslim mummies and daddies and kiddos :)

 

My favourite buys from www.iherb.com

My friends and family would already have known me by now - I am an organic junkie!

Although it is impossible to go 100% organic, I try to include organic and natural products in my life as much as I can.

I have been using organic shampoo and bodywash, skincare, toothpaste, and food for as long as I can remember. My kids have also been using and eating organic and natural products ever since they are born, or in-utero, if I may say!

 

Why do I love organic products so much? I have already written an article here.

The initial reaction I get when people (my own family members included) find out that I am so crazy about organic food and products is always the same "If you always let your children eat organic then they have no immunity to germs!"

As a matter of fact, the opposite rings true.

Ever heard of the saying "You are what you eat?" If doctors always advise mothers to eat healthily and to avoid alcohol during pregnancy and breast-feeding, then what makes you think babies and children will grow "strong" by eating insecticide laced vegetable and fruits?

 

I would like to share the common (non-food) items I buy from my favourite organic online store: www.iherb.com

 

 

Organic Jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and virgin coconut oil are what I keep on hand to use as carrier oils for blending with my Young Living essential oils for different viscosity and texture.

 

Grapeseed oil has the thinnest viscosity, and is easily absorbed into the skin. Suitable to use on the face and body due to its light texture.

 

Jojoba oil is useful as a makeup remover or as a hair moisturiser. Add 1 coin sized amount of Jojoba Oil into your shampoo and lather into hair, leave on for 5 min before rinsing.

The texture of Jojoba oil is slightly thicker than Grapeseed oil.

I used it often when I travel due to the dry air on planes and harsh aircon in hotels, or simply due to the climate change.

 

Virgin Coconut oil has the thickest texture of them all. Do not apply it to your face as it is comedogenic (meaning it can cause pimples and breakouts by blocking pores).

However, it functions as a good sunblock when mixed with Myrrh essential oil and as a body moisturiser.

Coconut oil has indefinite shelf life and is rich in fatty acids.

I love buying from www.iherb.com because their prices are much lower than our local supermarkets, and also shipping by Speedpost takes only 4-8 days.
My orders usually arrive within 6 days.

 

If you wish to purchase from www.iherb.com, you can enter this code for $5 off your first purchase!

LRT711

Will try to share about the uses of essential oils in my next post :)



[Sponsored review] Online shopping at www.babyonline.com.sg

Hello! If you do most of your baby-shopping online like myself, you would be like me, constantly on the lookout for reliable websites which offer a wide product range at competitive prices.

 

www.babyonline.com.sg carries every conceivable baby and Mummy product you can possibly think of.

I have been purchasing Bellamy Organic Milk for YEARS now, starting from Adam and now Ashton.

As Bellamy Organic is expensive and hard to find in local supermarkets, I really appreciate a trusty and low-cost supplier.

 

Navigation of website:

Idiot-proof with a search bar for quick listing of your wanted product because there are simply too many items to browse through!

However, had to click on the header banner or any featured product on the default loading page to go into the main site.

 

Product range:

Wide range of products from more than 80 different brands!

Strollers, wall stickers, food blenders, breast pumps, toys, you name it.

 

 

Pricing:

Prices are comparatively about the same as some online retailers, and slightly cheaper than in a brick and mortar shop. They offer free courier service (for orders $30 and above), which most online retailers will charge $6 - $10 for, so that's effectively like $6 - $10 off already!

They also offer bundle pricing for Bellamy milk powder which is means further savings.

 

 

Delivery time:

From checkout to delivery it took 3 days which is reasonable.

They use Ta-Q-bin for courier service so a tracking number is provided.

When the delivery man was on his way, he also called me on my mobile to make sure I was home.

Very prompt service.

 

 

 

 

This was my first time ordering from them, and it was a breeze from payment to delivery.

The following modes of payment are available: Paypal, cash on delivery, or iBanking transfer.

Best of all, www.babyonline.com.sg offers FREE island-wide courier for purchases $30 and above.

Now isn't that marvellous!

I did mention www.babyonline.com.sg has every conceivable thing a baby can have. I also picked out a Tiger Tribe inflatable globe for the kids which I think is really useful for them to learn the world map.

Have bookmarked BabyOnline to my list of trusty suppliers of baby stuff.
Thank you, BabyOnline for giving me the opportunity to collaborate with you!

Thanks for dropping by this post, and hope you have a fabulous weekend :)
If you have not purchased from www.babyonline.com.sg before, do check them out!