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

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

Fashion: Why I Adopted the Minimalist Style

Tuesday, March 01, 2016

My sense of style has evolved dramatically over the years, and as I gradually approach my mid 30s, it is not uncommon to see me ditching cute lacy dresses in favour of a minimalist aesthetic that is not just age appropriate in comparison but also ranks higher in terms of versatility.

Why go minimalist?

The minimalist style is all about monochromatic shades of black, white, grey and neutrals, coupled with tailored cuts and modern silhouettes. More importantly, mixing and matching is a breeze and there are endless recipes for creating fresh new looks without having to constantly expand your wardrobe.

The minimalist style goes hand in hand with a minimalist wardrobe. So yes, there isn't a need for a huge wardrobe to look presentable. Besides having more wardrobe space, I find that I am less restricted by fashion trends as this style is timeless. When you focus on quality instead of quantity, you will also get more mileage out of your wardrobe. Packing for trips, which used to be a time-consuming affair, now requires less time as my wardrobe is less cluttered and more organized.

How do I maintain a minimalist wardrobe?

In keeping with the minimalist style, whenever I come across something that I fancy these days, I'll always ask myself these three questions:

"Will I still wear this 6 months or 1 year down the road?"

"Can I match this with at least 3-4 items in my wardrobe?"

"Can I rewear this a few times in a fortnight with different tops/bottoms/accessories without giving others the impression that I have no clothes to wear?"

These questions help me to stay focused when I shop and the likelihood of making an impulse buy is greatly diminished, much to the delight of my husband who is of the opinion that I already have more clothes than I would ever need in my lifetime.

Isn't minimalism boring?

To be honest, this was exactly what I thought of minimalism when it first made headway in the world of fashion. How is it possible for anyone to look effortlessly chic by just putting together a few simple, basic wardrobe essentials? As cliche as this may sound, the beauty of minimalism lies in its simplicity. Simple does not equate to boring, and based on my personal experience, here are a few examples of how you can go about jazzing up the minimalist style.

1) Play with proportion

Think cropped tops paired with long skirts or culottes. You can choose to reveal just a sliver of skin to elongate your silhouette, or if you are feeling self-conscious after feasting during the festive season, matching your cropped tops with high waist bottoms would do the trick just as well.

Reveal just a sliver of skin to elongate your silhouette (Top: Cotton On // Skirt:Topshop // Bag: Givenchy)

(Top: Bershka // Culottes: H&M)

2) Add interest to your outfit with accessories/footwear

It is still possible to make a statement (without compromising on the minimalist aesthetic) by adding a simple choker, a pair of reflective sunglasses or edgy footwear to your outfit.

Complete your outfit with edgy footwear to make a statement (Choker: Tiffany // Sandals: Editor's Market)

(Dress: H&M // Sunnies: Egg, HK brand // Shoes: Adidas)

3) Pick interesting silhouettes

Not a fan of accessorizing? Interesting silhouettes like an asymmetrical hemline or off-shoulder/toga neckline will up your style quotient instantly. I have worn this grey asymmetrical dress as a top paired with ripped jeans previously too. To amp up the glam factor, throw in a choker and put on some heels.

(Dress: Editor's Market)

If you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you might have found these pictures familiar as these were the outfits that I packed for my recent trip to Bangkok.

For the record, I took about 20 minutes to pack everything that I needed for the 6-day trip! I guess it is not hard to see why I am such a fan of the minimalist style. What about you? Do you like this style too?

Fashion: SheIn Christmas Gift Ideas

Monday, December 21, 2015

We are just days away from Christmas. Time flies, doesn't it? Have you completed your Christmas shopping yet? Well, even if you haven't, fret not, because last minute shopping, especially with retailers such as SheIn, can be just as rewarding, if not more, thanks to their Christmas sale!

In collaboration with SheIn, I have put together a Christmas gift guide comprising some of my favourite minimalist pieces from their winter collection. These classic picks are great for the upcoming festivities and also double up as wardrobe workhorses. Looking stylish while braving the cold isn't such a tall order after all, and the best part is, you know your girlfriends will thank you for it.

1. Long Coats

I have come to realize that one of the best ways to avoid looking like a dumpling during winter is to "break up" your silhouette to create curves. Hence, my first pick is this long grey coat that drops all the way down to my shins because it allows you to do just that and keep warm at the same time. If your goal is to shake up your girlfriend's wardrobe, this is the gift for her.

Link: Grey Long Sleeve Notch Lapel Coat (US$42.99)

How do you break up a silhouette beneath the coat? The easiest way to go about doing so is to pair a mini dress with thigh high boots. These turtleneck sweater dresses go perfectly with thigh high boots to accentuate your femininity.

2. Sweaters with a Twist

Sweaters are a must-have in everyone's winter wardrobe, but if the words safe and boring are not in your fashion dictionary, sweaters with an unexpected twist would be right up your alley. If your girlfriend is just like you, surprise her with a sweater with lace details just like this!

Link: Grey Long Sleeve Contrast Lace Knit Sweater (US$26.78)

3. Blanket Scarves

Blanket scarves instantly add interest to any outfit as they can be worn both as a scarf as well as a shawl. These make wonderful gifts as they are so incredibly versatile.

I wore this soft and cozy blanket fringe scarf from SheIn as a shawl over a black lapel double breasted coat to lend a rocker chic vibe to the otherwise casual ensemble.