An Obsession with Fur

Wearing faux fur jacket from Zara, black knit crop from Beijing, black maxi dress from H&M, maroon ankle boots from Zara

Before anyone starts hammering me about wearing fur, please let me say that this is faux fur. I just love the luxury of feeling enveloped in fur during winter - it's like an unique feeling of receiving a warm hug from an animal of sorts. I love caressing it, or sinking my fingers deep into its warmth and the fact that it can change a silhouette and proportions so dramatically. 

You can wear it with a flirty A-like dress or skirt, or you can wear it with skinny leather pants, or even a slightly loose fit boyfriend jeans paired with platform booties. The good thing about fur is that it makes your legs look skinnier due to the contrast in proportions. 

It is regretful that Singapore's climate makes it impossible to make such a sartorial choice though... Another one of the woes of living on a tropical island. 

Next to the Docks

Wearing turtleneck knit sweater from Zara, pinstripe skirt from H&M, studded bag from ASOS, maroon ankle boots from Zara, black pea coat from Uniqlo, shades from Le Specs (stolen from Mich)

I managed to catch sunshine almost every day after I came back from my Europe trip and with just 4 days left in London, as each day passed my heart grew heavier and I was thankful for sunshine each day. It was a curious feeling for me, to spend each day being so thankful for the smallest and simplest things, when in Singapore I hardly feel anything similar to that. Maybe it is time to change and learn to count my blessings more.

Visiting St Katherine's docks was a really interesting experience for me. Who knew right within just a few minutes of Shoreditch there would be a dock parked full of yatchs and little boats? This just goes to show further how much London surprises. I raided my dear friend Michelle's closet out of laziness to unpack the clothes in my suitcase and came up with this ensemble. Out of everything that I wore here, only the pinstripe skirt is mine.

I like this look for its simplicity but still with attention paid to the details, from the cable-knit turtleneck, to the pinstripes and black glossy buttons on the pea coat. Putting thought into details and finding small things to appreciate - I guess that's how we find beauty.

A Walk down Diagon Alley

Wearing navy military coat from H&M, vintage lace blouse, silver jacquard skirt and tights from H&M, maroon ankle boots from Zara

Yes, you read that right. This is London's Leadenhall Market, where the first film of Harry Potter was shot. Back then, Harry was still a young boy of 9 and this is where they shot him and Hagrid shopping for wizarding back to school stuff.

During my stay in London, I really took the chance to explore as many interesting places as possible - from the insider haunts at Shoreditch and Dalston (East London), to shopping and taking lots of photos at the various markets, to visiting the romantic Notting Hill and of course, going on a Harry Potter tour! It was really interesting learning about the various locations where they shot Harry Potter using the London streets as backdrops. Leadenhall Market is located in the business center of London, close to the Thames and its shops today are all still functional. But of course - closed - on Sundays.

I loved wearing this navy coat and fedora hat ensemble as it made me look as though I was a detective, discovering little clues to pick up along the way to get myself into the wizarding world. But that aside, the coat definitely served me well against the cold winds of London!

Petersham Nurseries - A Decorator's Dream

Wearing white knit top from Zara, boyfriend jeans from ASOS, outer coat from My Spirit Inc, bag from Charles & Keith and maroon ankle boots from Zara

A belated happy new year! I am well and back from London and my month-long crazy Europe trip, traveling the major cities and villages in Italy, then crossing the border to the French Alps and finally Madrid, and Barcelona. During the whole trip, I was backpacking, couchsurfing (ie staying in other people's homes), hitch-hiking, and doing lots of crazy things like sleeping overnight at a train station, rock-climbing, skiing and traveling alone. But more on that later.

I would really like to share London with everyone - there is just so much diversity in this multi-cultural city. It's like London is made up of little 'villages', or rather boroughs, with each borough having its own distinctive look and feel. This series of photos were shot in Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, which is located in Zone 4 of London. It has a very nice suburban feel to it and Petersham Nurseries is absolutely beautiful.


Petersham is not only a nursery for flowers and plants, but also houses a cafe and restaurant, and two beautiful greenhouses where you can find beautiful vintage homeware and furniture, and also tools for your gardening needs.

I felt like I was really in a dream, because there were so many beautiful objects which were so perfectly, and naturally styled. Every corner was inviting me to take a photograph and each section blended seamlessly with the other. Vintage plates and bell jars were stored in a wooden plate cupboard, next to them, a table was set with beautiful lace tablecloth, napkins and cutlery, and then to your left, a circular fisheye mirror with gilded gold frames, beautiful white benches with homey cushions inviting you to take a seat... I can honestly go on and on.


Petersham Nurseries is also just a short stroll away from Richmond Park and Kew Botanic Royal Gardens. I was delighted to find a vast field full of leaves, fallen with the passing of autumn and little pine cones partially buried in the bed of leaves. I also saw herds of wild deer (yes, wild deer in London!), near to a lake with ducks and swans. And at that moment, despite the cold creeping in with the setting sun and my fingers gradually turning numb, I swear I still felt like the happiest person ever.

I left my heart in Shoreditch

Wearing Visual Mass Elles Cremes spectacles, Primark wool hat, blazer from Korea, vintage lace blouse from Paris, Al et Clar tailored pants, Zara boots and Charles & Keith bag

Sorry for the hiatus on my blog. I have so much material which I have gathered over the past 2 months of my stay in London to share with everyone, but school and travels have caught up with me.

Let me give you a quick teaser to Shoreditch. Its located in East London, but just minutes walk away from the City's financial district at Liverpool Street, which makes it really funny when you see people from one side of the town in black tie and suits, and the other side with hippie, boho or crazy outfits.

I LOVE Shoreditch. There is no other neighborhood that precedes it in terms of the amazing street art around, the number of vintage markets and shops, quality independent art galleries, as well as retailers selling well curated goods. Other than that, Shoreditch is also traditionally home to creative types, such as models, photographers, artists, actors, theatre producers, magazine editors...which also makes me feel very at home. Oh, and not to mention that it has some of the best, cheapest food around, especially on certain weekdays at the street food stalls from Whitecross Road, and also Brick Lane on weekends is amazing for street food as well as curry!

Upon my arrival in London, I spent my first night in my friend Giorgio's beautiful loft in Shoreditch High Street and peered from a window at the revelry going on in the streets - people drinking and dancing out on the sidewalks - at just 10pm, which eventually got even hotter towards midnight. I then woke up the next morning with beautiful sunrays streaming into the bedroom and I saw the local florist arranging pots of flowers and plants out. And then I knew that I had fallen in love with this neighborhood straightaway - there was no need to compare it with anywhere else.

These were shot by Giorgio at Columbia Road Flower Market on a beautiful Sunday in early October, when the weather was still good enough for just a suit. Columbia Road on a Sunday is just so amazing, because Londoners would flock there to buy flowers and there will also be several really good live bands performing, set against the backdrop of indie cafes, vintage shops and small art galleries. At around 3-4pm, the farmers will be going "Fiver! Fiver!", offering really steep price slashes on all of their plants and that's how I bagged this beautiful white orchid, for just 4 pounds.

I really love this pair of Al et Clar pants for its comfort and tailored fit. It has just the right bit of stretch in it, making it suitable for both the office and for a day out. Al et Clar primarily stocks beautiful pieces individually handpicked by Alicia and her partner from Korea, and I really like how their pieces are suitable for the working woman, but yet not horribly stuffy. In fact, I would wear the outfits which I've picked out above not just for the office, but to any event which I may have!

Here are my picks from Al et Clar - better grab them fast before they go out of stock!

1. Semisheer blouse top - Black
2. Pure Simplicity Bracelet
3. Montauk Tweed Mini Skirt
4. LongHouse Reserve Peplum Blouse
5. Jewel Printed Skirt
6. Sucre Gemstone Ear Studs