Mesh Me Up

New year, new mesh. (No pun intended!) A favorite fabric of mine, the miniscule nets embrace every curve while it keeps me cool on the hottest days. Though it’s ideal for hot weather, mesh can also be layered on cooler days, too. Even if you were in a cold country and are in need to wear something cool underneath all those heavy layers at a house party, girl’s night indoors or a date night at your apartment, mesh is ideal when you wanna drink mulled wine and munch on smores.

While plain mesh is cute, printed mesh is THE trend you must add to your cart this year. Look no further than my top picks:

  1. Miaou Mini Tee
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This baby tee drives you in the mood for a warm bowl of spaghetti bolognese. Style it with low rise jeans and a sherpa jacket.

2. Sandy Liang Two Piece Set

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NYC’s “It” designer is not to be slept on for the rest of the year. If you miss the pre Insta street style era, this two piece set is reminiscent of those years when you could scroll through blogs to find real style. It’s also giving the Bill Cunningham energy where the late photographer chronicled New Yorkers out and about that didn’t try to dress for the cameras even if they were caught on camera. The link is for the top, but I highly recommend getting the skirt for the full look.

3. Mugler Star Flocked High Neck Top

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The iconic paneled bodysuit’s cousin is starting to make waves, too. A more wearable version than its risqué relative, this bodysuit is both playful and classy. You can make it family friendly with a nude camisole underneath or make it X-rated with an opaque black bra underneath it. Throw on a blazer and jeans to make it extra casual.

4. Thistle and Spire Bodysuit

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Are you excited for Coachella as much as I am? If you plan to go, set Empire Polo Field ablaze when you strut down the grass. Be the headliner by styling this with a denim jacket (for the evening) and low rise cargo pants.

5. Jean Paul Gaultier Top

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The Cyberbaba dots are never going to go away anytime soon and its status as a must have is proof. This turtleneck top can be worn on its own or layered underneath a black dress. If this is too expensive for you, I found a similar dupe on Revolve.

6. Miaou Corset

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I am a sucker for a Miaou corset. Since 2020, I’ve been buying the brand more frequently and their corsets have helped me to feel more comfortable with my body. Though I normally wear a bra, their corsets make me feel like it’s totally bra optional as it gives the lift of a bra and snatches me at the right places whenever I pig out at dinner. Trust me, you will never regret buying this print as it’s on sale, too!

7. Miaou Dress

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Last year, I was on the hunt for content-worthy fits and this dress was it! I always get comments on it, I kid you not. This mesh dress is so comfortable that I legit wanna sleep in it. Bear in mind that this post isn’t sponsored by Miaou as I literally LOVE their mesh. Not a single rip has happened since I bought it.

8.Poster Girl Pants

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I’ve been a huge fan of the British brand since 2018 and their stuff is legit worth it. I’ve never gotten sick of any of my Poster Girl items because I love them that dearly. If you love Euphoria, these pants are the next big thing to add to your closet as it reminds me so much of Jules in her season 1 days (a.k.a. the pastel era). You really must add them to your cart for your bday trip whether it’s at Coachella or in Bali.

Michelle VarinataLeave a comment

Are Ankle Boots Over?

It was a casual Wednesday afternoon as I typed listings for Soeng Signature while listening to an episode of Call Her Daddy, a podcast I have been actively listening to for the past 11 months. Hearing two women I’ve interviewed (Alex Cooper for ELLE Singapore and Morgan Stewart for Galore) in the same room discuss about boots brought me to pause work for a 15 minute break. When Morgan said that she was done with ankle boots, I felt seen. I wondered if I was committing fashion no-nos the past nine years of my 20s with ankle boots, which I had a longer serious relationship with than ballet flats. Sure enough, I looked through my closet and saw that I do have at least more than two pairs of black ankle boots.

Ideal for Singapore weather, ankle boots were the maximum I would go as the hot and humid weather would suffocate my legs if I were to go out in Morgan’s preferred style of knee high boots. The highest I would go up to my knee was when I strutted around town in vintage ’70s patchwork cowboy boots. Those made my socks drenched. I could not go any further than a cafe if I were to wear them for the entire day as the humidity made me sweat throughout the whole day. Now that sandals are my preferred choice of footwear (due to the weather), I have been craving for some knee high boots as they’ve been showing up on my timeline on IG and my TikTok FYP.

Never for the shy, knee high boots are a statement maker on its own. Whether it’s lug soled or stiletto, it streamlines an outfit together and is easy to mix and match or layer. As much as I covet a pair myself, I have a few picks for you to try (with me) across every budget:

Schutz – Ashlee Slouchy Boots, $198 USD

Remember the time when all your Bratz dolls had *these* boots? To the knee and slouchy, these bad babies are giving MAJOR Y2K vibes. At the ideal price point for a trendy piece, it doesn’t hurt to go above and beyond to give these a try. Style it with a black knee length dress and a big belt for a modern take on the 2000s revival.

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Alohas – Katiuska Boot, $266 USD

A ’70s meets ’90s chunky boot, these camel brown boots are no joke. The perfect marriage between sleek and edgy, the lug sole brings out a sci fi vibe to a floral dress and a shoulder bag.

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Ganni – Knee High Boot, $595 USD

OK, these do break the bank NGL. BUT, I can say that these are the “It” shoe of the season. Please go and get a pair before it all sells out. Trust me, you’d want to wear it again and again. This is coming from a Ganni Girl as I own a pair of Ganni cowboy boots.

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Jeffrey Campbell – Dagget Boot, $270 USD

A knee high cowboy boot is an essential. If you want a white boot, look no further than this pair. I legit count on a white cowboy boot if I want to make a clean statement and a look that’s more timeless despite its on-trend silhouette. Jeffrey Campbell boots were my go-tos in my college girl days and though they’re a little high despite the issues with smell, go for it if you aren’t too bothered by the factory smell. Anywhere than that, I never really had an issue with comfort as this brand is so good for long days.

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Larroude – Kate Boots, $485 USD

A wee bit high up the price point, Larroude’s Kate boots are bound to last you fiveever if you plan to wear ’em out for the entire year (except for summer). I love a good chocolate brown suede knee high boot and these are proof that they’re Revolve’s hottest bestseller! You can literally pair them with a beige miniskirt or a skinny jean OR matte faux leather leggings!

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Steve Madden – Cypress, $179 USD

These boots are giving Naked Wolfe a run for their money based on price point and the platform looks more wearabale compared to the NW. If you aren’t ready to go all out for the Bratz vibe and want to try it out, these boots are a good starting point!

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BY FAR – Stevie 42, $418 USD

I swear on BY FAR as *theeeee* go-to brand for my shoes nowadays. Their colors are super wearable and this salmon pink one is a daring choice. Style it with a beige catsuit or a pastel blue dress.

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Hunter – Original Tall Boot, $175 USD

These blood red boots are so vampy that it’s never too late to wear ’em all year. Ideal for snow, mud and rain, these boots are super fly when paired with a sherpa jacket and 2 piece set in the fall.

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How to Hem Your Pants Like A Tailor

Thirteen-year-old me grabbed a pair of scissors and hacked a pair of shorts that were way too ugly. My mom feared the moment I cut across layers of denim. Though I was no pro, I acted like one. Countless sewing lessons later, I still am learning how to do it like a tailor.

Through the years, I’ve always cut my pants across the leg by either folding it and cutting across the legs or using a ruler to draw, then cut. While both methods were my go-tos for quick fixes, I realized that sometimes, the symmetry wasn’t right. To get the hems even, my grandma used this one trick from her book that I will show you on my Reel:

Miaou Raven Cargo Pant: https://rvlv.me/Ze5Oty

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How to Alter Your Sweatpants

Sorry I’ve been off the grid here, but rest assured I’ve been keeping myself busy!

Lately, I’ve been reconnecting with my sewing machine and it’s the one thing that has been keeping me busy apart from dates, endless bingeing of Love is Blind, playdates with Chili, lunches with friends and family time.

In case you didn’t know, I learned how to sew when I was 16, but didn’t really get back into it until 2017! I took sewing classes for a few years until covid hit in 2020. Rather than let it slip from my grasp, I’ve taken up some time to sew. Though I have yet to learn how to make clothes on my own, I’ve been quietly reworking ’em.

Purchased on December 2021, I was swooning over Miaou’s low rise Dita sweatpants, which feature cute O rings and a bootcut silhouette. However, they were too big on me as I have narrow hips. Even though I’m a size XS/S, the cuts of Miaou tend to run big at the hips since it’s cut for those who have wider hips.

Check out my Reel on how I altered it!

Miaou Dita Pants: https://rvlv.me/Ucvsdo

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Grunge, But Make It Grown

It wasn’t a phase. Twelve years after lurking through Tumblr and hiding behind my laptop scrolling through weekly Rookie Mag posts on the daily in high school, Grunge Michy is back!

When I first tried out the grunge trend, I was all about hiding my curves as I felt shy about my body. Rather than going the Kurt Cobain route, I wanted to copy Courtney Love’s style with the slip dresses, babydoll silhouettes and Mary-Jane shoes. However, I grew to like the striped shirts, distressed jeans, Docs and messy hair that embodied the grunge spirit. Though fashion at that time was still heavily gendered, grunge was uniquely unisexy as the shapes and aesthetic were purely utilitarian, not fashion.

If there was one book that got me invested in grunge, it’s Michael Lavine’s Grunge, which explained the visual origins of the style as an offshoot of punk in the ’80s. Published in the era of street style, Lavine’s book made me realize that grunge had a strong chokehold for being gender neutral.

Though I haven’t been dressing grungy for the past couple of years, I guess my high school self was ready to come out when I went out for a family lunch last weekend:

Most pieces are vintage, but you can cop the look with these links below:

Sweater dupe:

AllSaints Lou Sparkle Sweater – https://rvlv.me/e7ZxYt

Top dupes:

LaQuan Smith Bustier – https://rvlv.me/NVAKQ9

Superdown Ashleigh Cami Bodysuit – https://rvlv.me/i51xtP

Jeans dupes/exact:

EB Denim Lace Up Jeans – https://rvlv.me/lLFCaB

AFRM Sylar Jeans – https://rvlv.me/BD92eN

Boots dupe:

Dr. Martens 1460 Vegan Metallic Boots – https://www.zalora.sg/dr-martens-dr-martens-1460-vegan-silver-chrome-paint-metallic-grey-1620358.html

Michelle VarinataLeave a comment

Revolve Picks: Lunar New Year Outfit Ideas

Happy New Year!

I have to admit the start of the month was kinda bumpy, but a lil miracle dropped into my inbox by the grace of God: an e-mail asking me to be a brand ambassador for Revolve!

As a Revolve fan and customer, I’ve shopped with them for years. Their service was something I really count on and I still do count on them for: speedy delivery, easy returns, shopping in SGD and of course, free shipping for anything over USD $100! Their curated selections have grown with me as much as I’ve evolved as a person every year. As brand ambassador, I curate items for you to buy. In turn, I earn cash and/or store credit! To kick off this series, I present you my top picks for Lunar New Year!

For anyone who doesn’t know the Lunar New Year, it’s a tradition among the Chinese (like myself) when the new year begins with the start of the first new moon. There’s a lot of stories surrounding the origins, which you can happily Google at your own rate, but what I love so much about the Lunar New Year is that you get an excuse to dress up for 3 days! Not only do you get to dress up, you also get days off of work (if you’re in Singapore, Hong Kong and China)! It’s like Christmas where you spend days visiting your family and neighbors as per tradition.

If you need any help with what to wear, here are my top LNY outfit ideas:

Continue reading “Revolve Picks: Lunar New Year Outfit Ideas” →

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21 Things I Learned in 2021

I’m 2 years shy of being 30, but I feel that this year has been the year of growth for me. I find that when you’re getting older, you have no choice but to grow up and learn from mistakes. Sometimes, it’s easy to repeat mistakes without aware that you’re repeating it. On top of that, I realized that I have a tendency to cling on to unhealthy mindsets I’ve developed when I was in my early 20s, which I thought was once OK. Through these changes, I also find that this year has raised a lot of self-realizations that has called me to start levelling myself up.

While staying at home has been a choice for one and a half years, I decided to take some time out of being in Singapore and escape the confines of my room. By traveling through four different countries, it was a month long trip that brought me to start thinking of new beginnings and see that there is more to life than I previously thought!

While I am just as human as you, I am no role model as I don’t want to set myself up to be “perfect”. Instead, what I aim to do is to aspire to inspire you to start thinking about what you can do to enrich your life with these little pearls of wisdom. No matter how old we get, it is never too late to still keep on learning. ❤

Continue reading “21 Things I Learned in 2021” →

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Reddy Or Not: Would You Try 2021’s Hottest Hair Color?

Hotter than hell, but oh so chic, red hair is really having a moment this year. The Queen’s Gambit may single-handedly be responsible for this revival, but red’s been proven to be THE shade as seen on yours truly and Gigi Hadid, who credits the TV show for pushing her to go red. Heck, she even looked amazing with red hair at the Met Gala! Though natural redheads don’t have to do too much work to maintain their shade, being a ginger is a whole other story!

Sometime last year, I tried out a filter and I chose red. A friend told me that red looked good on me. Flash forward to Christmas 2020, I was given a box dye by Revlon’s Singapore PR team that contained a reddish tinge of purple that turned my hair into a cute shade of chocolate raspberry. Though the box dye was great at the beginning, I didn’t like how it aged badly and while being a brunette was cute, I felt like I needed to do something else.

Eons ago, one of my friends sent me an article about dyeing hair without bleach. Inspired by the article, I felt like it was time to treat myself to a birthday present. It was the first time I booked a dye job in six years.

Being a redhead was truly a liberation. It made me feel rock ‘n roll, fierce and extra sexy. I wore more neutrals, a pop of color and tapped into my inner Lizzie McGuire. I felt like I was my own Bratz doll, dressing however I wanted to no matter the occasion. Since we’re still in a pandemic, being a redhead was my only form of escape from a series of semi-lockdowns.

A month later, my hair dye faded. I had to mix conditioner with a tub of pink dye to maintain the color. While it did a good job at making my hair look fresh, the color couldn’t last. I realized that my hair faded into two different tones of red: orange at the top and purple at the bottom. It was not a good look. I had to use filters to fix the shade of my hair just so it looked more “fresh”.

With two months of root grown out by August, I felt like I needed a quick fix. I went to see another colorist, CK at Yann Beyrie, who told me that the bottom of my hair needed to be lightened to match the top half of my hair. Her brushwork was as fine as an Old Master.

Her work, compared to the other colorist’s, lasted me longer. As much as I enjoy being a redhead, you can’t really wash your hair everyday or swim. I had to spend a longer time in the shower since I needed at least 10 minutes to let color depositing conditioner sink into my hair. Then, I put in Oribe’s Power Drops Color Preservation Booster into my hair and blow dry it. No matter how many times I put on conditioner, color preserving serum and heat protectant spray into my hair, my hair became really dried, sticky and fried. Heck, even finding color despoiting conditioner was a challenge as the conditoiner hue was a blue-based pink red, which didn’t really match with my hair. *sigh*

No matter how glamorous being a redhead looked, it required SO MUCH maintenance! Instead of letting myself suffer with sticky tangled ends and stark roots, I decided that it was time to change it up.

Being a redhead was one hell of a trip. There’s no other experience like it. Even though trying out a crimson shade made me glow, I was sad to part it. While bits of it are inside the highlights, it popped well against a milk chocolate base and black roots. Going back to brunette was the most financially sensible choice, but what for I cough up hundresds of dollars to dye my hair, THEN dye it back to black? (Been there done that myself at the behest of my parents when I was in college!) Now, I think that a nice transition shade like brown is all it takes to gently grow out the hair.

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from being a redhead, it’s to keep on pushing yourself to try new things out of your comfort zone and have fun with it! I will never want to discourage any of you from feeling like you can’t try out red, BUT I still think that if you must take a risk, you need to be reddy for it (pun intended), know the pros/cons and go along with it. Just buy the ticket and take the ride.

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#HOTGIRLSUFFER: IS Emo Officially Back?

Move over, Hot Girl Summer. It’s been a year since COVID started and countries are trying to get back to normal, but the fear, angst and moodiness of 2020 still lingers. While some of us are able to travel to different parts of the globe, quarantining is still a standard and vaccines are slowly rolling out in APAC whereas they’re readily available in the States for everyone to party there like it’s 2019. With some of us going through the second wave (yuck!), we’re still confining ourselves to the same four walls of our bedrooms, working from home and blasting Spotify at full volume. Making up for the dearth of concerts, nothing feels more alive than the sound of guitars injecting raw venom into our brains, ready to make us scream and whip our hair back and forth.

Though the 10s were dominated by EDM, pop and hip hop, being stuck in the pandemic gave us no choice but to listen to sad music. By default, it was the sounds of the ’00s calling us back to tap into our teenage angst. Way before MGK, Willow Smith and Olivia Rodrigo invaded our Spotifys, Emo Night was up and running long after the demise of the genre. Heck, *I* went to Emo Night and covered it on Vice Asia. Strangely, the article was out the month COVID was first reported to the world. If there was one thing that helped me to survive the horrors of 2020, it was Spotify, where I bumped my Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, Motion City Soundtrack and as of recently with the second lockdown, Paramore. Convos with friends and sending memes about emo’s revival made me realize that emo was never really dead. It was in hibernation. It was waiting for the next generation to tap into its angst and indeed it did! Now that it’s in full swing again, let’s welcome the season of Hot Girl Suffer.

Coined by my cousin, Hot Girl Suffer is the chaotic twin of Hot Girl Summer. Moodier, saltier and sassier, Hot Girl Suffer is emo to the core. Though moody isn’t the vibe for the summer, you can still be in bikinis and rock your ass out to the entire Tickets to My Downfall at the beach, then cry along to “The Only Exception” in your bedroom while you’re scrolling through Depop for old Paramore merch or rewatching Jennifer’s Body. Weatherproof for the seasons, emo is just as seasonless as your tried and true Chucks. Just as you’re about to go on Spotify to blast pop punk classics, let’s introduce you to the Hot Girl Suffer starter pack:

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I Did A Self-Care Marathon And It was Worth It

Dating your skincare is equivalent to running laps on the tracks or swimming laps across the pool. Trying out product after product is like going on a date every few days. Just like finding a partner, your skin also has standards, too. Sensitive, yet oily, my skin has mainly been a blessing save for a few flaws. While I can handle makeup, I’ve had a harder time finding the right skincare as products have been a hit or miss. Just like the Olympics, every skincare product performs differently no matter how many times an esteemed publication or an influencer calls it “the best”.

Despite flogging skincare products on my Instagram and being given skincare products, I do the best I can to believe in my products as I’m constantly in the process of searching “the one” for my skin. However, I’ve had to outgrow some products as some of the ones I’ve used in the past were not compatible with Singapore weather or not working on my skin anymore as my texture has changed. If there was one product I have a hard time sticking to, it’s face masks.

Always on the hunt for THE perfect mask, there were some that REALLY did wonders for me and there were some that made me break out like crazy. Even for the ones that did perform well on me, I hated the fact that I had to pay a LOT of money for shipment given that I don’t live in the States anymore. Also, I loathe having to put in extra effort at finding a mask I really love as it requires me to travel outside of Singapore to get one. But what I don’t slip up on is having to include one in my skincare ritual. Day or night, I like to add on a layer of mask to prep my skin for moisturizer and serums. Adding on a layer of mask helps a TON to ensure that I can get my skin treated to be rid of maskne and/or receive hydration. Thankfully, LAPCOS has me covered as their PR team sent me a big box of masks to try.

Although I used to believe that masks were strictly for my face, I found out that it’s also important to mask up in different parts of your body. As I Goldilocks my way through the package, my face and body can only take in what it can absorb. Catch my verdict on which masks win gold!

Continue reading “I Did A Self-Care Marathon And It was Worth It” →

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