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.

#HERSSENTIALS: The Backless Dress

Baby got back. Business at the front, but party at the back, the backless dress is the Gemini of apparel with its conservative, yet sensuous silhouette. As one of the hottest trends that’s been bubbling up in 2020, it’s bound to be one of the biggest trends this year.

Spotted on French actress Mireille Darc, the back-baring black dress was designed by Guy Laroche for Le Grand Blond avec Une Chaussure Noire. Barely skimming past the butt, the exposure of butt crack was shocking in spite of a modest exterior. Dipping low near the butt and cut across the shoulders, the spine-baring dress dared to emphasize the curves of a woman’s butt while making her waist smaller.

For someone who lives in an island where its fashion preferences leans towards conservative, it’s a struggle to contain my curves if I want to wear crop tops or body-hugging dresses as those things don’t get frowned upon on girls with A cups. Given that I have a small, yet pert butt, I have zero problems shopping for bottoms. But, having to go out without a bra is a hassle as I have to keep lifting my boobs up to make them look perkier as bigger breasts tend to drop. (Thank God for NuBra though – this keeps me feeling extra perky when I’m braless!) Apart from feeling self-conscious about going braless, bacne has been a major problem for me as the scars on my back made me feel insecure about going out in backless apparel. Since this trend meets my need for great coverage and for looking appropriate, I like that it’s made me feel secure about being able to go out with a NuBra. Perhaps what I need to work on is feeling less self-conscious to even try out this trend.

Another thing I noticed is that most fashion trends only cater to a secular and Westernized world where there’s no need to worry about covering up. Perhaps what I love most about this trend is that you can always have the option to layer up or grab a jacket when things get chilly!

If you wanna try this trend, here are my top 8 picks:

1. Are You Am I Denz Dress – $150 USD

Founded by blogger turned designer Rumi Neely (a.k.a. Fashion Toast), her namesake brand has built a cult following among Instagram for its avant garde take on basics. As a fan of the brand, I LOVE how Neely takes her minimalistic aesthetic and throws in some sex appeal, yet makes it easy to pair with a handful of essentials in the closet. However, some of their designs are kinda extreme like this one shouldered glove dress or at risk of accidentally flashing people for anyone bigger than an A or AAA cup (*clears throat* this napkin-style top or side boob-baring tee). (Please don’t ever get me wrong, I truly admire the creativity of Ms. Neely and her team’s risk-taking execution to get wilder designs produced IRL!) Nevertheless, the whole point of buying an AYAI garment is to be photographed in it, post, then either wear it again or put it away until you swipe your credit card again for the next drop. Out of all the backless styles, the Denz is a great option if you want that sexy Kim Possible goes on a date night with Ron kinda feel. If you live in colder climes, it looks phenomenal with a leopard print coat and thigh high boots. If you happen to live in hotter climates, this cotton-blend dress will keep you cool when you style it with a denim jacket and loafers. For girls with bigger boobies, it’s best to size up to get more coverage.

2. Musier Robe Darc – €220

OMG. I don’t even know where to BEGIN! This is the exact dupe of the iconic backless dress named after the French bombshell. Though it is as equally racy as the original Guy Laroche design, Musier’s version has more coverage that stops just above the butt. Not to forget, this dress is on pre-order as it sells out really quickly. Their sizing is a little small, but the effect is chic! I highly recommend that for everyone.

3. Bec and Bridge Aubrey Midi Dress – $150 AUD

If Kate Moss’s iconic golden Marc Jacobs Met Gala dress had a baby with the vintage Dior Couture gown she wore (that eventually turned into a minidress because Courtney Love stepped on it), Bec + Bridge’s 30s inspired iteration is the next best thing you can get. Albeit more conservative than the previous two dresses, this classic golden silhouette is best worn to at weddings, birthdays or holiday parties. Keep it simple with pointy toe heels or square toe sandals.

4. Meshki Armelle Thong Dress – $103 AUD

A Gillian Anderson moment, but make it intentional with a built-in whale tail, this dress is going to cause heads to turn. Not for the shy, this dress is meant to be worn at home for socially distanced house parties or bday Zoom calls. Preferably not on family night. If you think that wearing floss strings at the side of your hips is crazy, then this little pink glittery dress defies expectations.

5. Saint Laurent Backless Dress – $1407 USD

Anthony Vaccarello never shies away from being daring. If anything, this dress is relatively tamer compared to some of the designs for the brand. (Hello, mono boob dress and column-inspired dress!) If you are the type who likes to be conservative, surprise everyone when you strut outta the house in this little number.

6. For Love and Lemons Verbena Dress – $135.26 SGD

Why, hello there backless little white dress! As the wholesome little sister to the backless LBD, this heavenly lace dress is so divine that it makes you look equally sinful. Cute for first dates and other family moments, but certainly not for Chinese New Year family gatherings! (ICYMI, white is a no-no to wear during CNY as it symbolizes death.)

7. Winona Destiny Mini Dress – $349.95 AUD

Ugh, Idk where to begin. The one shoulder to the backless detail is EVERYTHING I ever wanted in a dress. Deffo not something I’d wear in front of the parents, but at least it’s something I’ll happily pack with me on a staycation date with my BFF! If you want to be less scandalous, this dress will look great with a long-sleeved mesh nude bodysuit underneath.

8. Réalisation Par Jeet Dress – $210 USD

NGL, but I’ve been eyeing this dress for quite sometime. I think that it looks better on anyone who’s 5’5″ and above. This backless silhouette is RED HOT and I like how the fabric is ridiculously lightweight, especially for Singapore weather, where it’s hot and humid. If you are someone who can’t bare much skin due to religious reasons, it’s easy to layer it on top of a long-sleeved shirt or turtleneck!

Scents and Scentsability: A Story of Womanhood

Perfume is personal. Spraying it on is like a ritual. Collecting a bottle is like collecting artwork. Certain scents are attached to a memory, an event, a moment, a phase and a person. Growing up, my first perfume were Barbie scents that came in teeny tiny bottles: Aventura, Summer Fun, Princess and Supermodel. I wore them, but not very much because I was scared of finishing them all up. Yet, I hated the thought of throwing away the bottle because the graphics were so dang cute. Then, I went for J.Lo’s Miami Glow, which smelled of coconut and vanilla. Being the typical Gemini, I went for Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Coast to Coast perfumes, which were inspired by LA and NYC.

After wearing all of my fave celebrity perfumes down to the bottom of the bottle, middle school me went for Victoria’s Secret Sexy Little Things, which I purchased on my summer trip to the States when I was 13. I guessed Alessandra Ambrosio’s kissy face made me believe that 13-year-old me could be as sexy as her even though I was far too young to be feeling that way with its sugary sweet scent. From then on, my mind craved for more sweeter scents that were not as annoying as Love Spell.

While I was searching for my signature scent, I returned to the all too familiar route of wearing celebrity fragrances. If I was feeling coquettish, I’d spray Paris Hilton’s namesake perfume, a fruity floral creation that made me feel innocent. But if I wanted more spice, I went for Britney Spears’ Midnight Fantasy, which a teacher commented smelled like “apple shisha”. Heck, I even wore Pink Sugar, Donna Karan’s Red Delicious, Vera Wang’s Princess, Fragonard’s Juste Un Baiser, every single Harajuku Lovers scent and Marc Jacobs’ Daisy. But, I briefly experimented with Serge Lutens’ Datura Noir, a heady vanilla-based scent that was a tad too grown up for me. Even though I was an angsty teen that went to church and studied hard, the sweet smell of perfume comforted me in ways I never knew.

When I moved to LA to start college, my tastes in perfume changed. Desperate to break away from my past as the anti-social wholesome girl from high school, I felt like it was time to stop wearing fruity scents. To accelerate my newfound metamorphosis, I started shopping vintage, dyed my hair in shades of rainbow, wore sluttier outfits, went to house parties, partied with musicians, listened to Bangerz hardcore, skipped church or academic obligations for USC football games and sneakily puffed on e-cigs (an on-off vice I did for years until two years ago). If I was going through a wild child phase, why not I go for something a little more dangerous, a little more grown up or a little more badass? During that phase, the only comforts I swore by were Elizabeth and James’ Nirvana Black and Fresh’s Cannabis Santal. The former was woodsier whereas the latter was a bit more earthier. However, I did continue to wear Nirvana Black post-college, too. Though I was only in the wild child phase for a few years, my taste in perfume continued to level up when I moved to NYC.

Long gone were the Cannabis Santal and the Nirvana Black. Instead, I relished myself in wearing BYREDO’s Rose of No Man’s Land, a perfume that my sister and brother-in-law bought for me when I graduated college. Named for the selflessness and compassion of the nurses who saved the lives of soldiers during WWII, this rose-based scent was a new favourite that slowly grew on me. Like the Venom to Spiderman, it clung to me, feeding into my blossoming sensuality as a strong, level-headed young career woman. I wore it almost every day anytime I went out to the point where I finished the entire bottle. Feeling naked and in need of a new bottle, a life-changing scent suddenly came along.

On a cold blustery December 2016, my dad and I were surrounded by more than footlong thick pile of snow. Walking on sleet wasn’t sexy, but if there was one place where we needed to step inside to escape the snow, we went to Barney’s. Say what you’d like about Barney’s, but a small bottle caught our eye. Without a title slapped on the body, the light citrine liquid was calling me to smell it. A saleslady opened the round little black cap, sprayed it on us and mentioned that it was by BYREDO, the same brand that made my graduation scent. Amused at the thought that it was a nameless scent, she explained that we could call the perfume anything we’d like. We walked out with three bottles of BYREDO’s Unnamed – one for me, another one for my mom and another bottle for my sister. Rather than another random title, I put down “MISSY”, my childhood nickname. Fresh like the forest, powdery like Daisy and comforting as a bucket of popcorn, MISSY became my new fragrance that I’ve continually wore for years until today.

Since 2016, I hadn’t purchased any new bottles until I was at the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, where I was taking my flight home from Paris to Singapore. Since airports were great for last minute beauty buys, I was always fascinated by taking a little souvenir home. Given that it was cheaper to buy French beauty products in Paris, I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to indulge. From the corner of my eyes, I spied two perfumes that caught my attention: YSL’s Libre and Paco Rabanne’s Pure XS. One was a lavender-citrus based scent and the other smelled of candy. Unable to choose, a saleslady advised me that I was better off getting both. From that moment, it was an epiphany that no matter who I grew into, I could always bridge my past with my present through the journey of scent.

Sitting on my computer as I am typing this, I realize that whether we’re going out responsibly with our friends/family or staying at home during this pandemic, a bottle of perfume will always be there by my side. No matter if I’m happy or sad, a bottle is just one sniff away.

Quarantine Health Food Purchases I Never Regretted Buying

Staying indoors has nearly driven me stir crazy. Without access to a swimming pool and shopping mall for two months, there wasn’t much entertainment apart from binging on trashy dating reality TV shows on Netflix, enlightening Sunday sermons from my pastor, a marathon of takeouts with the family and countless video calls/texts from friends all around the world.

If there was one thing that kept me sane, it’s health food shopping. Although I look like the kind of girl that would splurge on Alo Yoga sets, most of my spending has been allocated to food. More specifically, health food.

For the past five years, I’ve been more consistent with upgrading my health; however, my journey started with a scare. In July 2015, my mom took me to see Dr. Rachel West for an allergy test. My skin was breaking out, I gained weight and although I looked healthy, I was always feeling sleepy after a meal. After I took the allergy test, it turned out that the highest allergens were gluten, dairy and eggs. On top of that, I had high mercury and yeast levels from consuming too much bread, fish and macaroons when I vacationed at the South of France, Milan and Paris that summer. While I was being treated with IV drips to remove the mercury and yeast, I decided that it was time for me to go vegan and gluten-free temporarily.

With the vegan and gluten-free experiment, I found out that my body felt lighter, I had more energy and there was minimal bloating on my stomach. In addition to eliminating the allergens, I’ve also decided to ramp up my diet by snacking clean, too. Flash forward to 2020, I am still that health nut from 2015, but I’ve made improvements since then.

Rather than relying on an all or nothing mentality (a trait I’m working to unlearn), I’ve came to realize that indulging healthy doesn’t mean that it’s boring! With more vegan substitutes of pantry classics (think Nutella), it’s beginning to open my mind that something healthy can enlighten your meal without making sacrifices.

If healthy eating is completely foreign to you, it’s never too late to try out different kinds of meals!

Here are my top go-tos:

A Girl’s Guide To Self-Tanning: How to Fake That Glow Like A Pro

Growing up in Asia, the idea of tanned skin is not widely appreciated nor desired. Instead, lily white complexions are always in vogue. Wherever I visit beauty counters, there are so many shades of beige, but rarely do I ever see moisturizers, body lotions and/or face masks that target tanning.

Even though I was born a lighter shade of beige, I was perpetually tanned throughout my childhood due to countless swimming lessons. It wasn’t until I had to study for college that I became slightly fairer and looked pastier than a bottle of Elmer’s Glue. In need to fake that tanned complexion, what else can I turn to than a bottle of self tanner?

Before I go any further, I’ve had a long history with self tanners since high school. When I was in 9th grade, I used to ask my sister (who studied in the States) to get me a bottle of Sevin Nyne at her local Sephora. Upon my first try with Sevin Nyne, each spritz was able to evenly cover my skin without any issues. (Who knew that Lindsay Lohan was able to develop SUCH an amazing self tanner?!) Flash forward to 2012, I snagged a bottle of St. Tropez’s self tanning mousse for my body and cream for my face. Compared to Sevin Nyne, it honestly didn’t give me much of the much desired golden tan I craved for and it also made my face erupt with pimples like pepperoni on top of pizza. After years of swearing off self tanners, I guess that it was time to go back to sunless tanning as I realized that not all areas of my body are evenly tan! (Hence why my face tends to be paler than my arms due to sunscreen and abs are whiter than my back due to my preference for low back one pieces – eew!)

In need of a touch up, MineTan sent me their trusty Nano Mist , which comes with a rosewater spritz to help my newfound fake tan last. Since this is the first time I’m trying out a spray tan after five years, can Nano Mist really live up to its hype for a bronzed glow?

#HERSSENTIALS: Statement Eyewear You Can’t Live Without

Growing up, I always loved collecting sunglasses. As a firm believer in eyewear, I never forgot seeing images of Paris Hilton in her oversized Dior Glossies, Nicole Richie in her round Eley Kishimotos and last but not least, Mary-Kate Olsen’s half lensed Chanel frames. Since then, I’ve collected everything from vintage ’70s butterfly peach Linda Farrow sunglasses, rimless Gucci shield wraparound frames and my Takesh Eyewear heart shaped Lolita-inspired frames. Truth be told, a pair of sunglasses are like a disguise: you can either hide your Friday night hangover, wear a dark pair to avoid running into an ex or use a pair of statement frames to make heads turn.

If you never found a pair of signature shades to try out, here are some pairs that you should try out:

Getting Red-dy For The Party: A Guide On The Best Red Lipsticks Of All Time

Growing up, I’ve always seen my mom wear red lipstick. There’s never a moment where my mom ditched her tubes of Chanel and Cle de Peau. As a gloss girl throughout my childhood, I never bothered to wear lipstick until I went to NYC in the summer of 2011. In NYC, I was always distracted by the beauty aisle at Duane Reade, Space NK and Sephora. While I was hesitant to try any other shade outside of pink and nude, the biggest life-changing moment happened when I stumbled across a row of Lime Crime lipsticks at Space NK.

Say what you want about the most controversial indie beauty brand, but Lime Crime’s campy pinky purple tube contained the brightest neon red. Dubbed “Retrofuturist”, this blue-based red felt so right. The moment I swatched it on the back of my hand, my eyes immediately fell in love. As I tried it on at my sister’s studio apartment, I knew that red lipstick is destined to stay inside my makeup bag.

Now that I’m an avid lipstick collector, there is never a day when I am never without rouge (save for some gloss or lip balm). If this is your first time wearing red, don’t be shy.

Firming Up With Singapore’s Buzziest Budget-Friendly Skincare Brand

Skincare brands are my wallet’s kryptonite. No matter how much hype it’s got on Instagram or at the nearest Sephora, the beauty gods flip a coin. As someone who’s always open to trying out new skincare products every time a bottle runs out, no single product can make my sensitive oily skin happy.

In all honesty, I’ve had my fair share of trying out anything whether it’s a dermatologist-approved brand, an Instagram cult staple and/or something radically green. Like dating, you simply play around with whatever works for you. As for me, I found plenty of things that sparked joy until I realized that certain products just don’t work for me anymore whenever I get a breakout.

In this case, The Skin Firm, a newly launched local brand, approached me to try out their products. For someone who’s been living in Singapore for more than 20 years, I’ve never tried out local brands before. So, I’ve decided to give it a shot!

#HERSSENTIALS: The Black and White Purse

Picasso painted the blues and Hefner loved his busty blondes. Like peanut butter and jelly, nothing can separate (or go between) black and white. As a hardcore bag collector, the one color scheme that can’t escape my mind is black and white.

Timelessly classic for generations, black and white has always given every outfit a bit of oomph since Ruth Handler dressed Barbie in her signature chevron strapless swimsuit in 1959. For myself, nothing beats a black and white handbag.

#TURNUPTHEGLOW with St. Ives

You can always turn the lights down low, but can you make your skin turn up the glow?

As a skincare junkie, I’ve been stuck in a merry go round of trying out a bajillion different products. If I have to pick a category, I’ve been in a steady stream of non-committal relationships with sheet masks. Ditto with scrub as I tend to be hyper anal about deep cleansing effects with a single exfoliation. Upon unconsciously knowing my concerns, St. Ives slipped into my inbox offering me to #TURNUPTHEGLOW with three types of sheet masks and their signature apricot scrub.

As an offer I couldn’t refuse, why the heck not? The moment a box arrived, I couldn’t wait to open my new gift. Inside, it contained one apricot scrub and six sheet masks (i.e. two of each type). Even though the brand’s scrub is cult status, is it something that actually lives up to its expectations?

Before I can say anything, I’ve decided that it’s finally time that you guys get a glimpse of my Photoshop-free skin that’s filled with freckles, dark circles and acne scars! Brace yourselves, y’all!