Honey, I Shrank the Sunglasses: A Guide on Finding the Right Pair That Flatters Your Face

One e-mail was all it took to make a trend happen.

On an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kanye West told Kim Kardashian to swap her signature oversized sunglasses for “tiny little glasses”. Despite being resurrected from the ’90s time machine in 2017, you’ve seen everyone from Rihanna, Bella Hadid and as of now, almost every “It” girl wearing frames shorter than their eyebrows.

As much as I like the trend, I have to say that it’s not universally flattering since you NEED to have the right face shape, size and style of the sunglasses in order to pull off this trend.

Since I’ve been rocking it on my Instagram, it’s time for me to finally share my style secrets with you! Here are my top five faves that you need to add to your cart:

1. 1. Kylie Jenner x Quay’s Purple Honey

Kylie Jenner is not my favorite celebrity nor is she someone I dub a “style icon”. However, I acquiese myself to good design. Designed as part of her killer collab with Quay Australia, Kylie Jenner’s Purple Honey shades have this Léon meets Penny Lane vibe that I dig. Also, the honeycomb-inspired design makes it easier for me to wear the trend as it’s slightly larger than some teeny tiny pairs I tried on. In case you aren’t convinced, this is what it actually looks like on me:

As I have a round face with a squarish chin, THIS is the pair for you. Seriously, you need to get it!

BUY IT HERE

2. Giant Vintage’s Cray Cray

This style is literally what it is: cray cray. As a deadstock pair straight from 20 years ago, these are authentically ’90s as no retailer will every carry shades like this today. They are truly tiny, incredibly avant garde and safe to say, appear like they’re incredibly hard to wear. But, don’t let its small size and shape intimidate you. If you got killer cheekbones and a long face, these sunnies are the pair YOU want to rock as it’ll immediately elevate your outfit from basic bitch to high fashion status. Believe me, there will be a 99.9% chance that either Bella Hadid or Cara Delevingne will ring up their stylist as soon as they see these. (My guess is that Cara will bring them back as she wore a similar pair like those in 2013! *gasp*)

BUY IT HERE

3. Le Specs’ The Flex

Man, I LURVE Le Specs as it dares to lead the game. Rather than letting the ball hover above the net, this Aussie eyewear brand makes it reach higher than the sky with one lethal swing. It’s no secret that its Last Lolita pair has been seen on everyone from Gigi Hadid to my favorite style icon, Miley Cyrus. As much as I love them, they’re getting a little basic. Despite the fact that I *did* wear the Last Lolita (see pic for proof) before selling them on Carousell, the one pair I should’ve purchased was The Flex. Lean and mean with all the right 90 degree angles, it feels so futuristic with a white and blue color palette. It kinda reminds me of Delos’ lobby, where Angela greets William in Westworld.  If the sci-fi inspired look is all you’ve been obsessing over, go get these stat!

BUY IT HERE

4. Rad & Refined’s Nirvana

 

If you love Clueless, glitter, Britney Spears perfume and yet, you post pics of Kurt Cobain on your Instagram, then Rad & Refined is the brand for you. As the go-to brand for statement sunnies, I LOVE it as it makes me feel so glammed up and super extra. But what I like about this particular pair is that glitter is MADE to be worn in the daytime! If you want to look on trend, you need to score them.

BUY IT HERE

5. ROC Eyewear’s Snakebite Sunglasses

I’ve noticed that more than a handful of you like my Garrett Leight x Clare Vivier red lensed glitter cat eye sunnies. As much as I hate to brag, these are practically one of a kind. So, if you wanna cop a little slice of my world, a great trendy dupe that I highly recommend is this killer pair from ROC Eyewear.

Compared to most of the ones I’ve recommended, this one is entirely rimless. Rimless shades are the best for runway-ready looks as they match beautifully with a cat eye and a red lip. If you like red lenses and rimless sunnies, then this is the pair for you.

BUY IT HERE

 

Will you ever try on tiny sunglasses?

 

Feature photo by Audrey Kwok

Music Madness: The New Artists You Need to Rock Out To

Music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I’ve swiped my sister’s or my dad’s CDs. From Avril Lavigne’s Let Go to the Reality Bites soundtrack, the groove of each beat lingers on my ear drums.

Before I delve into my top picks of the month, I used to work as a radio host at Loyola Marymount University’s online radio station and Blasts That Last, a local online radio station. Picking out songs seems like a chore, but what makes it fun is discovering what you’ve never heard before.

Grab a pen, a piece of paper (or iPhone if you’re more modern) and go!

1. 1. The Pink Slips

(via Obey Clothing)

Dude, I don’t even know how to describe The Pink Slips. Fronted by Grace McKagan (a.k.a. Grave), her sound is basically punk with a little bit of synth. But, what I like about it is that you can really hear the drums, guitar and bass on the first listen compared to most L.A.-based bands. If you have yet to hear of their music, check out “Gimme” – it’s my personal favorite as it’s catchy, memorable and easy to sing to when you’re in an Uber. Although I have yet to see them live (it sucks for me as A) I live in Singapore and B) I REALLY want to so badly!), they’ve sold out a gig at The Troubadour, which is one of my favorite venues to catch up-and-coming acts. So, stay tuned for their EP because I’M GOING TO DOWNLOAD IT ON MY SPOTIFY THE MOMENT IT IS OUT!! (I’m ready to yell “Okurrr!” like Cardi B – OK!)

So, if you have any plans to travel this summer, they’re gonna be at Download, which hosts iconic acts like Guns ‘n Roses and Marilyn Manson. Thankfully, there’s also L7, an all-female fronted grunge band, so that makes it a nice balance to even out the heavy testosterone in festivals.

2. The Heirs

(via Facebook)

Moo-lah-lah!!! Where can I actually start?! I mean, if you’ve got a band with four good looking dudes and one incredibly hot chick, where are ALL of our eyes gonna be at? Fronted by two siblings, Brandon and Savannah Hudson, The Heirs is one of the very few bands you’ll hear of that has two vocalists. In fact, it creates a nice harmony too all of the synth-heavy inspired pop-backed beats. If you like Duran Duran and Fleetwood Mac, then you’ll like this band as their neo-retro look and sound are freshly contemporary.

Also, their music videos feel so cinematic. Seriously, YOU will be addicted! As for their songs, check out “Suburban Wonderland” – the track is dreamy, airy and something to dance to when you’re alone in your room.

(P.S. I’ve interviewed them before for Galore and they’re exactly as you see them: charismatic, fun and ready to blow you away!)

3. Tanerélle

(via Instagram)

Watch out for this siren: Tanerélle‘s infectiously seductive hooks and alternative R&B sound will get you to listen to her music for HOURS. Based in Los Angeles, the Atlanta native’s main strength is a soulful, yet smooth velvety voice that is distinctly unique. It’s rich, but raw.

While a handful of artists use Instagram to promote their music, I feel that many are lacking in the engagement department as interacting with the fans can get them to feel his/her personality. This is why I adore Tanerélle: she’s upfront, unfiltered and hilarious. Trust me, you NEED to give her a follow!

As music is leaning into a politically-driven spectrum, one of the best songs to emerge is “In Women We Trust“, which calls for girl power in the wake of #MeToo and #TimesUp. Also, if you and your friends rant about bad dates with fuccbois, this is the song to raise all of your glasses to!

Fun fact: she DM’d me on Instagram to see if she can be featured on Galore and from there, I interviewed her! Although I did it last year, it’s one of my top faves.

4. Liz Y2K

(via Facebook)

She may sound familiar, but get ready to know her name: she is Liz Y2K. Backed by bouncing electronic beats, her Gwen Stefani meets Britney Spears voice and J.Lo swagger feels extremely reminiscent of your favorite pop CDs from the 2000s. Thanks to its extremely party-ready tunes, you can absolutely pop it in during a workout!

One of my go-to tunes is “Queen of Me” as it truly uplifts you into another world. If you can listen to it again on repeat, this is the one to jam to.

(In case you missed it, go catch my interview with her on The 405! Trust me, she’s like a human version of a trivia game.)

5. Mothica

(via Facebook)

 

If you are the type of girl that would watch old Winona Ryder movies and kiss your man in the pouring rain, Mothica has the perfect soundtrack for you.

Hailing from Oklahoma City, but based in Brooklyn, she has a unique voice that will pull you in like a tidal wave. In a sea of Lana del Rey wannabes that are invading Spotify, what makes Mothica stand out is her bewitching presence, which is something you can instantly feel when you hear her songs. Most importantly, she doesn’t bother to push out an enigmatic persona and/or try to put herself in the “indie pop” category. (Which is why I love her!)

Given that heartbreak bops are impossible to avoid, you need to get your ears ready for “Lovetalk“.  It’ll blow your brains apart, melt your heart like it’s a stick of hot glue and make you crank up the volume in your car. And also, it’s the type of song that you will most likely hear on an episode of Riverdale.

Open up your Spotify, follow her and if you are in NYC or LA, witness the litness because Mothica shows are NOT to be missed!

 

Who are your favorite new artists? Leave a comment and let me know!

No (Arche)type: How Trope Dares to Break All Molds

Christmas may be over, but the season of giving ain’t gonna end any time soon. As my birthday is five months away, the first present falls into my lap like a stork dropping off a newborn baby. Stuffed into a cardboard box, my gift was waiting for me to open it.

Instead of being wrapped in a luxurious red gift box, it’s wrapped in a white plastic bag with an Rx label on it. In place of small orange containers, I’ve been prescribed with three lipsticks and nail polishes as well a travel-sized mini highlighter. My doc is no other than Trope, a new beauty brand from Jakarta.

As a beauty junkie, the core trinity of my beauty kit consists of lipsticks, highlighters and nail polish as they strongly define my look. Regardless of the brand, I just cannot live without having every single shade under the rainbow. As much as I hate to admit this, but I get super peeved whenever beauty brands continue to peddle dupe after dupe of the same shade. (I mean, doesn’t it annoy you, guys?)

Not to overlook, but I’ve noticed that a handful of Indonesian beauty brands constantly get compared to popular Western beauty brands due to the similarities of aesthetics. Given the fact that the majority of them (e.g. Rollover Reaction and Layn) are drawn into the ’90s, each brand adds their own interpretation of it. As much as Trope is heavily inspired by the decade, it has a runway-inspired twist to its aesthetic that it reminds me of Pat McGrath. If I were to describe Trope, it’ll be the love child of Rodin (minimalist luxe aesthetic), Glossier (packaging), Pat McGrath (colors), Benefit (shimmer) and Milk Makeup (holographic highlighters, anyone?). Basically, it’s a personification of the ’90s-obsessed Instagrammer who would sneak into Style.com (before the name change) during class and read her mom’s backissues of Vogue after the cute English tutor leaves.

As a happy recipient of Trope’s bundle, I cannot wait to try it on!

Lipstick

From L-R: Duality, Peony and Flamingo

The ideal lipstick goes on like this: matte, yet creamy; soft, but not too soft. In terms of how it should look, the shade must be bright enough to seen on my lips, but muted enough for myself to wear it every single day. The pigmentation needs to feel boldly rich like whipped butter.

Thankfully, Trope has answered my prayers with their Velvet Matte Lipsticks. Despite being compressed into a flimsy Glossier-esque package tube, Trope’s formula feels similar to Revlon’s Super Lustrous mattes, which has an oil pastel crayon-esque texture. While the silhouette is similar to Glossier’s Generation G lipstick, it’s more sturdier and opaque.

Speaking of the shades, Flamingo is a beautiful terracotta-based tangerine that’s super flattering as it doesn’t make my teeth look outrageously yellow. As someone who loves orange lipstick, it’s my personal favorite as the muted red undertones remind me of a 1970s Playboy editorial.

Duality, a stunning mauvey violet, has smoky pink undertones that instantly remind me of the ’90s (i.e. Pamela Anderson’s purple bodysuit). When it’s worn on the lips, it looks a bit more pinkish than the tube, yet it’s still strikingly beautiful.

Last but not least, Peony is a stunning rosy pink color. It might look like any other pink you see at department stores, but deep down, it has has a violet red undertone that’s subtly bluish. If you have to go to the office and you want to rock a bold lip, this is the color to go to.

Since each color can stay on during drinks and meals, it fades subtly like any other lipstick. When I reapply it, bits of the color transfer on to the tube as there’s a lot of pigment; however, there’s zero patchiness. Anywhere than that, the lipsticks perform well.

Highlighter

Highlighters are one of the most essential products and I have to admit it, but the demand is incredibly oversaturating to the point where it’s hard for me to tell apart each shade.

But with Nirvana, it’s a ridiculously beautiful bronzy rose gold. What I like about it is that it’s neither too peachy, pink-ish nor yellow-based – zero gimmicks. I always wanted a highlighter like it and it truly delivers. Its creamy consistency that melts wonderfully on the skin, which makes it easier for me to apply with my fingers. While most brands like to use big batons with extremely little product (ahem, Fenty Beauty), this one is accurate to its sizing as there’s a LOT of product inside the mini-sized case. Given that most cream highlighters tend to pick up a bit of foundation on the surface, Trope’s Nirvana Illuminator doesn’t do that as it turns to powder.

I’m telling you, this highlighter DOES NOT PLAY!

(P.S. you can see it pop on all of my selfies!)

Nail Polish 

I’ve mixed up all shades for the sake of review, guys! But, it looks so nice together. 😉

OK, I am a sucker for nail polish and I’ve been painting my nails since I was 8. Growing up, I’ve always worn the super bold shades and I disliked anything sheer, nude or beige as I felt like it was “too naked” for me. If I have to pick a type of nail polish I’d wear on a repeating basis, it’ll be anything metallic.

Among all the colors there, the top three I’d pick are Dreaming 90, Dreaming 93 and Dreaming 87. Dreaming 87 (inspired by the founder’s oldest brother) is a pure metallic silver that instantly reminds me of the Olympic medal. I really can’t pass on it as silver nail polish lends a futuristic high fashion look to anything I wear.

Dreaming 90 (the number refers to the year her second older brother is born) is a glimmery gold that will instantly flatter anybody. As a great dupe of Chanel’s Gold Fiction, THIS is the shade that you need to buy as it’s the closest you can get to achieving the Chanel S/S 2008 runway look. (Although I myself personally owned Chanel’s Gold Fiction, I seriously regret throwing it away as I would’ve worn it despite the strong solvent-ish smell after not wearing it for an X amount of years! I know it’s bad to wear expired nail polish, but what can I say?!)

Dreaming 93 (inspired by her birth year) is the cherry on top of all nail polishes. It’s a rose gold/bronze hybrid with silver undertones. Frankly, that’s something I’ve never seen in any other nail polish. Not only will this match with anything, it’ll look good on EVERYONE! If you haven’t tried it, you abso-freaking-lutely NEED to add this to your cart stat!!

While the nail polishes were aesthetically pleasing, it stayed on after four days of applying it. There were no signs of chipping and a change in texture after I applied my Barry M matte topcoat. (FYI, it’s their recommendation!) As I applied it, the pigments coated my nails smoothly without any jerkiness. So, props to Trope for making good quality nail polish!

Verdict: If I have to pick out something from my beauty closet, I’ll happily stuff them in my Faure Le Page bag (that I wear for work, guys!) and wear it all day, every freakin’ day.