July 2010 - Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

Black on Black

Sunday, July 25, 2010

I've been busy helping a friend out with her last minute wedding preparations, so here's just a simple outfit post. My Europe posts ...

Sunday, July 25, 2010

I've been busy helping a friend out with her last minute wedding preparations, so here's just a simple outfit post. My Europe posts will have to wait till I have more time on my hands.

I'm currently going through a black phase. Black has always been one of my favourite colours because it is sharp, mysterious and versatile. While black is a staple colour in any wardrobe, playing with textures and different fabrics helps to add dimension to the ensemble when you have too much black going on in one outfit.

Ok it's time for me to zip off. Enjoy whatever's left of the weekend!

Catching up in London

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It has been eons since I last caught up with Sheryl, my JC classmate, but she hasn't changed one bit! I was so glad we finally got to me...

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It has been eons since I last caught up with Sheryl, my JC classmate, but she hasn't changed one bit! I was so glad we finally got to meet again after all these years because not only do we share the same birthday, we share many other similar traits as well.

I'm guessing the easiest way to tell us apart is by the number of shopping bags we each have. No prizes for guessing who has more. :P

Hint: The one who has more shopping bags just had a plate of grass for breakfast.

She's still as sweet as ever, always lovingly referring to me as the evil twin when I am obviously the good one, though I have to admit (albeit rather grudgingly) that this is also a case of the pot (i.e. me) calling the kettle black.

We had lunch in a quaint little french restaurant at Covent Garden, followed by crazy shopping!

That day alone, we covered Oxford Street, Bond Street, Covent Garden and Harrods...how amazing is that?

As you can tell from the photos, the weather in London was exceptional while we were there. It was sunny yet breezy, totally unlike the typical gloomy weather that Londoners are so used to. Needless to say, that was probably the key reason why the streets were jam packed with people! The only time when the streets were empty was when the world cup matches were on!

Germany - Frankfurt

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

We had some free time before our flight to London, so off we went to explore the city centre of Frankfurt! By then, we were starting to fee...

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

We had some free time before our flight to London, so off we went to explore the city centre of Frankfurt!

By then, we were starting to feel the effects of jet lag, which was further aggravated by successive late nights and the blazing heat! If I recall correctly, it was about 33-35 degrees in Frankfurt then.

We spotted a strange looking statue right in the middle of the square. Not quite my idea of artistic expression. Haha.

Despite feeling fatigued, the thought of shopping kept our adrenalin pumping and nothing could deter us. Such incorrigible shopaholics we were!

Now, this is what I call artistic. The best part is, it's a shopping mall!

Germany - Munich

Sunday, July 18, 2010

We spent a day in Munich and had some time for a short tour in the city centre, Marienplatz. At the heart of Marienplatz lies the New City H...

Sunday, July 18, 2010

We spent a day in Munich and had some time for a short tour in the city centre, Marienplatz.

At the heart of Marienplatz lies the New City Hall, a magnificient landmark known as Neus Rathaus to the locals.

The column on the left hand side is Mary's column (Mariensaule), which was erected in 1638 to mark the end of the Swedish occupation. A gold gilded statue of Virgin Mary stands atop the column.

There is a myriad of standalone shops and boutiques at Marienplatz. There we were, busy darting in and out of H&M, Promod and a slew of other shops.

Another highlight of the city centre is the numerous fruit stalls that line the street. Strawberries and cherries are on sale here at ridiculously low prices as compared to Singapore. The glutton in us manifested and we ended up buying a huge packet of cherries to munch on. I have absolutely no idea why there's an "Extra Gross" label on the cherries though. If you ask me, there's nothing gross about it except for the grossly low price. :P

Before long, it was time for us to head for lunch. Lunch was at Feinkost Kafer. We were told this is the most prestigious gourmet restaurant in Munich.

I love the homely feel of the restaurant. The clever juxtaposition of green and pink accents against neutral shades injects liveliness into its interior .

Unfortunately, there were no pictures of the food as it was inappropriate for me to take photographs in the company of our guests. My verdict? Well, this is definitely one of the best German restaurants around. ;)

Switzerland - Geneva

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Exposure to different environments and cultures keeps me excited about work all the time. While it may be tiring to travel for work, work ju...

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Exposure to different environments and cultures keeps me excited about work all the time. While it may be tiring to travel for work, work just doesn't feel like work when you've a great travel companion.

I have a love-hate relationship with European culture. I hate it because of its inefficiencies. Things never move as fast as they should. It is only when we Singaporeans step out of this little dot do we realize that our stable government, efficient transport system, cleanliness and safety are just some of the reasons that make Singapore such a conducive place for residence and business.

Ironically, there are times when I actually like the way of life in Europe as well. Everyone takes things in their stride, and no one is in a rush for time. I was strolling down the streets of Geneva when I spotted this guy above making music with a cooking wok. How innovative is that? He was so engrossed in his own music and so comfortable with himself that he hardly paid attention to anyone around him.

To lead a life driven by passion alone is not impossible, but the pressure to comply with societal norms, especially in an Asian society, makes one think twice isn't it?

The slower pace of life also allows one to sit back, relax, enjoy a cup of tea (or hot chocolate in my case ;) ) and people watch at a roadside cafe. Talk about quality of life. :)

When you are done with tea, take a walk along the lake and admire the beauty of the surroundings. What a pleasant way to end the day!

Bow Dress

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

This is another one of my favourite Korean dresses, although it makes me look a little like a present from some angles. Nonetheless, you can...

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

This is another one of my favourite Korean dresses, although it makes me look a little like a present from some angles. Nonetheless, you can't deny it has a fabulous cutting.

Doraemon and Dorami

Monday, July 12, 2010

This probably sounds terribly childish and frivolous, but I am not ashamed to proclaim that I am a huge fan of the Doraemon cartoon series! ...

Monday, July 12, 2010

This probably sounds terribly childish and frivolous, but I am not ashamed to proclaim that I am a huge fan of the Doraemon cartoon series!

Yes, Doraemon, that chubby cat who never fails to dish out a slew of futuristic gadgets from his four-dimensional pocket to help his owner.

Before I started suffering from the post Europe trip jet lag, I used to be able to spring out of bed at 9.30a.m. every Saturday and Sunday just to catch Doraemon on TCS Channel 8!

I end up in stitches all the time, and from the corner of my eye, I'll catch my bemused hubby giving me strange looks from across the couch in our living room. -_-"""

Besides the cartoon per se, I also like this 欠扁问答题 (i.e. lame joke) that revolves around Doraemon.

Question: Why does Doraemon like to help others?

Answer: Because he likes to 伸出圆（援）手。

Don't you agree that the versatility and wittiness of the Chinese language is indeed unrivaled in every sense? *chuckles*

My fascination with Doraemon extends to his other half as well. I recently got acquainted with Doraemon's girlfriend, Dorami, through one of the McDonalds Happy Meals that I ordered.

See that yellow button on her chest? The Doraemon theme song plays with the push of a button. :)

Graze@Rochester Park

Monday, July 12, 2010

I know many of you must be wondering..is this yet another entry on breakfast? :P Erm, yes, unfortunately. As I mentioned, I was and am still...

Monday, July 12, 2010

I know many of you must be wondering..is this yet another entry on breakfast? :P Erm, yes, unfortunately. As I mentioned, I was and am still going through a breakfast phase!

My second visit to Graze took place just before I left for Europe. Karen, Bernice, baby Arielle and I decided to meet at Graze for brunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I still remember Karen told her friend that we were going to Graze at Rochester Park and how bizarre that actually sounded. The thought of a herd of cows (i.e. all of us) going to graze at the park still cracks me up. Hahaha!!

I like the restaurant's interior design. The eclectic mix of mismatched furniture, dark walls and chrome accessories creates a bold picture of elegance without compromising on functionality.

I had the Eggs Florentine, which happened to be one of the better ones that I've tried. The most important ingredient for eggs benedict (to me at least) is the hollandaise sauce. Here, the hollandaise sauce is buttery and flavourful with just a tinge of sweetness. I personally dislike the eggs benedict at Riders because the hollandaise sauce is just way too sweet!

Karen had the waffles, topped with ice-cream and a generous serving of strawberries. :) Silly me forgot to take a photo of Bernice's breakfast. She had bacon hash, which is essentially potatoes with fried eggs. There was a dead housefly on her plate when the dish first arrived, but thank goodness we got the dish promptly replaced.

Finally, here's a parting shot of us with baby Arielle, who just woke up from her nap. ;)

Ms Selfridge Embellished Top

Sunday, July 11, 2010

This embellished top is one of my current favourites. Made of soft, quality cotton, this intricately designed tunic was on sale (just 15 pou...

Sunday, July 11, 2010

This embellished top is one of my current favourites. Made of soft, quality cotton, this intricately designed tunic was on sale (just 15 pounds!) at Ms Selfridge in London.

It would probably look more outstanding with bandage leggings like these.

Anyone knows where I can get bandage leggings in Singapore? :)

Bags & Accessories

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Many friends have asked about my haul from my recent trip to Europe. Well, wait no further...here they are! There was a 10% discount on the ...

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Many friends have asked about my haul from my recent trip to Europe. Well, wait no further...here they are!

There was a 10% discount on the Loewe Amazona bag at Harrods and the Prada tote was heavily marked down. I also wanted to get a Longchamp for my mum, but I just couldn't find the perfect bag! :( Looks like the search will have to resume on my next trip.

I was choosing between the black and the camel colour, but I eventually settled for this. I was very pleased with myself when I bought this as it was the last piece, but now I'm wondering why I had to add another black bag to my growing collection of various black bags. Talk about cognitive dissonance. I guess I can't get enough of black bags with gold hardware.

The Prada tote is perhaps my most functional bag to date. It is very light and just the perfect size for my laptop, wallet and other knick knacks.

Chanel earrings

Ribbon accessories

Gifts for the hubby :)

There was also a massive sale at Karen Millen, Topshop, Ms Selfridge and New Look. Needless to say, I bagged numerous good buys from these stores as well :P.

Now, while you happily browse through photos of my loot, please excuse me while I have a plate of grass for breakfast.