Weekend Want: Mudan’s exquisite jade necklace

One of the most profound heartfelt moments of the last few years was when I was given a vintage jade necklace by my mother-in-law.

The more I explored Asian culture, the more I realised how precious this gift was, not least because my husband’s mother is Hong Kong Chinese and fully understands the deep traditional and symbolic value of such a gift. Jade in Chinese culture symbolizes beauty, nobility, perfection, constancy, power, and immortality and thus has always the stone of choice since ancient times.

Such a precious gift was made even greater because she was given the necklace by her own mother. I’m not joking when I tell you I sometimes well up thinking about it.

My weekend want for CNY is this gorgeous coral and black jade
Red Flourish necklace from HK-based jeweller Mudan

Four new looks for Chinese New Year from Soon Lee

If you’re anywhere in Asia, there’s little chance that you don’t know what next week is; yes it’s Chinese New Year, the most important occasion in the region!

Apart from the colours and pageantry, I love it most for one very good reason: Shopping!!! Chinese tradition states that you buy new clothes to wear for the occasion and for the past few weeks, shops have been full of people hunting for their new outfits.

This is one cultural tradition I have no problem integrating with and so I headed down to one of the coolest boutiques on Haji Lane to not only try new outfits but come up with different looks for the lengthy celebrations.

Getting ready for Chinese New Year...

Shito shoes: adding colour and character to Singapore’s LBD

Whoever it was that said brown was the new black had obviously never been to Singapore.

Brown isn't the new black here. black is. In fact black was the old black, and will more than likely be pretty much every other future black too.

And in a country where monochrome dresses are a staple of most wardrobes, it becomes more essential for the average person to accessorize well.

For some that means a nice expensive handbag, but for me it means one thing...SHOES!!!

What's better to accessorize an LBD than a pair of bold statement shoes?
This Shito pair is my current favourite!!!

Weekend Want: Max Tan’s geometric genius

I think it is clear by now that I’m not a fan of baggy clothes or monochrome ones. However, I just can’t seem to resist max.tan designs which are all both baggy and monochrome at the same time.

Looking through the latest collection lookbook of one of the most respected Singaporean labels (max.tan was the first Asian-based label to be invited to showcase at Modefabriek in Amsterdam in 2010), I cannot help but swoon over the flawless edgy garments which combine soft geometry and bold cuts to create beautiful shapes and an ethereal feel to every piece.

Although this dress is too floaty, the shoulder and sleeves design
would make it wearable and even flattering!

ERIIN: Bringing Asian fashion to the world?

For those of you, who have been asking about the availability of some of the Singaporean and regional labels, ERIIN.com which is launching on the 12^th (Thursday) might become your regular online shopping destination.

I was told about this website last month when I met Kate and Maisha, the two young Singaporean ladies behind the site who want to introduce the up-and-coming local and Asia Pacific labels to the rest of the world.

Naturally I loved the idea – in many ways it’s kind of the e-commerce ideological sister of this blog. Well, today when the email announcing the launch this week dropped in my inbox the excitement started kicking especially after reading the list of designers and labels which they will be stocking.