Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog: fashion

Styling White & Rose Gold with Forever New & The Peach Box

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Channeling Song Hye Kyo's Casual Chic Style in Descendants of the Sun

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Styling Pleats with Pleatation

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Where to go for a Vintage Old Shanghai Themed Photoshoot

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

I did a vintage photo shoot recently with an Old Shanghai theme and I really love how it turned out.

Where? Where else, China of course. If you're traveling to China and you love having your photos taken, this is an enjoyable and relatively inexpensive activity (if you pick the most basic package) that you can add to your bucket list. Be prepared to draw lots of oohs and ahhs from all your friends and family when they see your photos!

There are two spots where you can do this in Nanjing:
1) Laomendong; and
2) Nanjing Museum

Nostalgic Photo Studio at Laomendong, Nanjing

Both attractions have a vintage photography studio. You can be a cheapie like me and just go for the most basic studio photoshoot package where you'll get 1 hard copy of a photograph similar to the ones above for 70 yuan or about S$15 (inclusive of a simple hairdo, accessories, clothes and professional lighting equipment). You are also allowed to take your own photos in the shop, so be sure to bring along your own camera too.

These are some photos taken by my hubby:

Waiting to elope with my secret lover

Laomendong, Nanjing (China)

If you prefer the full works, you can opt for the most comprehensive package which includes an elaborate vintage hairstyle, make-up and several backdrops and poses. You'll get to keep an album of photos too. This would set you back by 1680 yuan or about S$350.

The full works

These photos give you a flavour of what the backdrops look like. On hindsight, I should have styled my hair in the series of photos below to match the gorgeous Old Shanghai setting in Nanjing Museum. With the right makeup, hairdo and backdrop (plus some editing), anyone can transform into an upper class woman of leisure sipping tea in a retro tea house or a cute schoolgirl waiting to elope with her secret lover.

Retro tea house in Nanjing Museum

Cinema from a bygone era at Nanjing Museum

Streets of Old Shanghai at Nanjing Museum

If you prefer the DIY route, it is possible to ace this shoot with your Instagram boyfriend or husband by wearing your own cheongsam, styling your hair yourself (check out tutorials on pinterest & youtube) and bringing your own props.

It's a really fun way to spend an afternoon and you can expect the end results to be nothing short of spectacular!

Complimentary Mother's Day Tea Party at Mondo Vantaggio

Thursday, May 05, 2016

Have you decided on where to take your mum this coming Mother's Day? If you're still cracking your brains as to where you could possibly go, why not take mummy dearest to Mondo Vantaggio for shopping and tea this weekend!

Located just off Orchard Road on the second level of Furama Riverfront hotel, Mondo Vantaggio is a new multi-label luxury store spanning 13,000 feet that offers designer labels at competitive prices. A welcome respite for retail therapy amidst the city bustle, you'll find over 40 high-end designer labels including Gucci, Prada, Balenciaga, Burberry, among others in the lavishly designed store. Aside from leather goods and bags, it also stocks an exclusive selection of ready-to-wear apparel and shoes.

The issue of authenticity always comes to mind when shopping for designer goods, and I love that I can shop at Mondo Vantaggio with complete peace of mind as it has a refund policy where customers can receive a full refund on returned purchases in their original condition within seven days of purchase. I have every intention to feast my eyes on the new arrivals every fortnight!

This weekend (7-8 May), in conjunction with Mother's Day, Mondo Vantaggio will be hosting a tea party for you and your mum.

Not only is it the perfect time to pamper your mum with a gift or two as there is a 30% discount store wide (lowest price guaranteed during this promotional sales period), both of you will also get to indulge in a complimentary afternoon tea session at their in-house cafe run by popular cafe, The Tiramisu Hero.

Date:
7-8 May (Saturday & Sunday)

Venue:
Mondo Vantaggio
Furama Riverfront Hotel
#02-01

Time:
2pm - 5pm

To attend this event (you can also come with your hubby or girlfriend instead!), all you have to do is to click here to RSVP on Mondo Vantaggio's Facebook Page now!

Walk-in customers who decide to pop by without RSVP will have to spend a minimum of $300 to join in the tea party.

I will be there on 7th May at 4pm, so do come by and say hi!

See you there!

Fashion: Song Hye Kyo's Style in "Descendants of the Sun"

Friday, April 29, 2016

After hearing all the hype about Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun", I finally decided to hop onto the bandwagon along with an army of addicts, purely out of curiosity. Did I like it? Well yes, being a military wife, I definitely found the storyline relatable, but what left an even deeper impression on me was Song Hye Kyo's (or Kang Mo Yeon, as she is known in the series) simple yet elegant style, which brings me to the objective of writing today's post.

So yes, without further ado, let me share some of my favourite style/beauty moments in the series and more importantly, where you can actually find these products.

Beauty products

It is no secret that Song Hye Kyo is the brand ambassador for Laneige, hence the beauty products used to achieve her flawless skin and rosy lips include:

Laneige BB Cushion

I've used this previously courtesy of Laneige and I was impressed by how buildable the coverage is, not to mention the dewy finish causes light to literally bounce off my skin, making my pigmentation look less obvious to the naked eye.

Laneige Two Tone Lip Bar

I have yet to try this myself but if I recall correctly, these were already flying off the shelves before the show became popular. I hope you can still find them in stores!

Shirts & Shirtdresses

Shirts are practically her wardrobe staple and it is not hard to see why. Song Hye Kyo transits from weekend casual chic to smart casual/semi-formal with absolute ease simply by changing from a pair of shorts to a feminine A-line skirt or putting on a shirt dress. These basic pieces will never go out of style and thus ensure that she is always on point.

Bottom - Washing Linen Blouse from Stylenanda (Shop HERE)

Printed Silk Crepe Mini Dress by Victoria Beckham (Shop HERE)

Bags

Song Hye Kyo generally goes for minimalist, functional bags in the series, such as this beautiful Symmetrical Bag from Celine and the Eco Shoulder Bag from J.Estina, a Korean jewelry and bag label that she was endorsing till January this year.

Celine Symmetrical Bag (Shop HERE)

J. Estina Savvy Helio Eco Shoulder Bag

J. Estina Savvy Helio Eco Shoulder Bag (Shop HERE)

Accessories

Accessories, especially earrings, play an important role in adding the finishing touches to her outfits. Simple, minimalist earrings are paired with casual outfits while a touch of gemstones are the perfect accompaniment to her work ensembles.

Earrings from J.Estina

J.Estina Oro Lia Helio Earring (Shop HERE)

DvF by H. Stern Collection (Shop HERE)

Shoes

Comfortable footwear is a must in the fictitious country of Uruk, and although this statement about comfortable footwear isn't entirely true (didn't you see her running around the disaster zone in platform heels?!), I'm sure this beautiful pair of perforated high-top sneakers struck a chord with you, just as it did for me, because it's now completely sold out!

Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons Perforated Leather Sneakers

I have left my email address in the link below and asked to be notified when the item is back in stock. Good things ought to be shared, so I'm sharing the link with you too!

Junya Watanabe Commes Des Garcons Perforated Leather Sneakers (Shop HERE)

Now that the long weekend is here, it's the best time to indulge in some retail therapy! Have you watched the series yet? If so, which of these products do you like best?

Image credits: KBS

The Secret To Dressing Like The French & Rue Madame

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Don't we all dream to be that woman who wakes up with messy bed hair but somehow still ends up looking effortlessly chic and sexy even with a simple white t-shirt and a pair of well-fitted jeans. The whole "I woke up like this" look is characteristic of the French woman who never tries too hard and always appears put together at all times.

What is the secret to dressing like the French? Well, it's actually very simple. The French woman loves basic pieces, and they have to be of good quality. She believes in investing in timeless pieces that she will get the most wear out of, which makes perfect sense.

As you would know by now, minimalism is my cup of tea. The minimalist style, a classic style that makes dressing up a breeze for anyone, probably best describes the French woman. T-shirt and jeans are great for summer, but when temperatures are cooler, a tailored shirt and black pants or overalls (like the one pictured here) are my go-to ensemble.

Some of my favourite brands that do great simple basics include American Vintage, Majestic Filatures and Toupy, to name a few, all of which can be found at Rue Madame.

This French fashion boutique houses many brands and each collection has a distinctive Parisian flair to it. Not only do they have quality basics at affordable prices, you can also find playful, vibrant, feminine pieces that add a quirky touch to your wardrobe staples. I'm currently obsessed with boxy silhouettes and I have my eye on this two-tone cut-out sleeveless dress from Tara Jarmon.

Tara Jarmon Two-tone Cut-out Sleeveless Dress

The cut-out details at the side add an element of surprise to the clean, minimalist look. I love how sophisticated the collection is and the amazing thing about Rue Madame is that it only carries exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces that maintain a sense of individuality.

Rue Madame has recently launched their online store, which is so exciting especially since summer is just around the corner (fine, for Singaporeans, it's summer all-year-round)! But yes, whatever the season is, check them out to get some Parisian inspiration and lovely festival wear with several boho, gypsy style brands that are all the rage right now!