Tips on Chasing Light Beach Photography

I have always wanted to shoot at Punggol Beach of Singapore - it's probably the only beach with interesting "props" to explore, such as rocks and big tree branches washed ashore. I love the romanticism of wearing a long flowy maxi skirt on the beach and this one I'm wearing is a pretty old piece I have in my wardrobe for some time already. I paired the long maxi with a crop blouse from Talulah - I love this collection thanks to its kaleidoscope like rainbow colors.

Beach photography can be tough sometimes because of the harsh sunlight you get, making your photos look rather "hard" with heavy shadows. Here are some tips if you want to shoot some portraits at the beach or at your next holiday destination:

• Try to use your camera on Manual mode - Doing so would avoid your camera from underexposing your photos if it was on Auto. You can set you ISO to 100 or max 200 and then play at it from there.
• Tell your camera where you want to focus, and try to find interesting backdrops along the beach to shoot, such that not all of your photos will look the same. 
• It helps if you do beach photography either early or late in the day, to get the best light possible. 
• Make sure your camera lens come with an UV filter, which will help to block short length UV light, or have a polarising filter on to darken the sky. It really depends on you to achieve an interesting effect.

Hope that helps and happy shooting!

Concrete Jungle Urban Streetstyle

Wearing Cutout crop top from Asto Group

Box pleat skirt from Natalia Kiantoro

Silver mini handbag from Modparade

Silver Strappy Heels from Zalora

Shot by Phoebe Chin

Finally sharing this series of photos which me and Phoebe shot after an extremely heavy downpour last year in the CBD. We came across this backalley between two skyscrapers and decided that it had the right black walls and yellow road marks to make a good contrast and we were right! Pleasantly surprised by how this series turned out, even though it's so different from my usual style of photos and shadow editing.

I find this outfit simple yet impactful for its details. A plain crop top but with cutouts and my all-time favourite pleat skirt from Natalia Kiantoro. I love how this skirt lends itself a very boxy silhouette and gives off a slight sheen thanks to the satin blend fabric used. All white doesn't mean boring after all.

Sponsored Post: Free-spirited, French, Cointreau

Wearing Off-shoulder peplum top from Modparade

Vintage pencil skirt

Silver strappy heels from Zalora

Wonder Clutch from Sandro Paris

Shot by Phoebe Chin

I’ve always been attracted to French women, especially since they share my views about beauty and the way they dress. French women don’t rely heavily on makeup and cosmetics correction, their makeup is always au naturel and hair always done up in a messy bun or ponytail, or simply let down. They wear clothes that suit their age, fits wear and its comfortable to move in. But the thing is, they always look chic and very elegant. I attribute that to the way they carry themselves. 

An example would be French actress and model, Laetitia Casta, who’s the Creative Director of Cointreau. Not many people know that Cointreau is actually a very feminine spirit - the orange liqueur stands for a free-spirited woman. In fact, I align myself quite closely with the values of Cointreau - 

1. Pursue your passions.
2. Forge your own path.
3. Express your creativity.
4. Share time with friends.
5. Have elegance to be yourself!

Here’s to more #GRLPOWER!!!

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Remy Cointreau, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Working a maxi skirt

Wearing Flo & Ko Angelos sleeveless shirt, Hera Maxi Skirt, Gold Leaf Belt and 

Zalora Strappy Heels

Weekends post-brunch in this beautiful neighborhood can't help but have me lament in envy about the convenience of having stellar F&B outlets just down your house.

I've always been attracted towards clothes with movement, as I feel that they imbue ladies with a kind of sensuality as it sashays together with your walk. A maxi skirt such as this one from Flo & Ko is one such great example, with its multiple asymmetric layers of chiffon that looks lovely with a little wind.
 
What does it take to wear a maxi skirt actually?

1. It helps if you're tall. But for those who are not so blessed in the height department, just style it with a crop top! It helps to make your torso slightly shorter and your legs longer. 
2. Pair it with a nice belt. It can definitely be a leather belt (but no traditional thick men's style kind please), if it's too long, you can just knot it!
3. Walk, no sashay, with it down your neighborhood!

Now, watch me move.

Suit Up - Menswear for Womens

Once in a while, I like to incorporate menswear into my wardrobe. I like the structure of a well-cut blazer - padded shoulders, nipped in waist and with a slight flare at the hips. I like how the rigid structure lends power and stature to a lady and immediately makes you stand a little taller.

This sky blue suit from my friend Matthew Gideon's newly launched menswear label, Deboneire, ticks all the right boxes for a suit for me. So much so that I begged for him to let me wear it even before he launched his label and knowing that the suit was not even cut for ladies.

• Double-breasted jacket - check
• Wide, padded shoulders and nipped in waist slimcut - check
• Slim cigarette pants - check

Wearing Deboneire Sky Blue Suit, accessories from Vainicious 

I think Celine is a great brand which integrates menswear and androgyny (ie, genderless) cut very well into their design. Women who dress in such cuts just carries themselves differently - they are modern, fuss-free and efficient. They belong to a league whom I aspire to - The state where they are confident enough to just be themselves without fear of being judged or of not living up to expectations or conventions.

So here's how you can choose the perfect menswear suit, or even just a well-cut blazer for yourself. (To me, cut is everything). You can find some great blazers on Zalora, or here for additional discounts.

How to Borrow from the Boys

1. For jackets or blazers, look out for the shoulder width to see if it sits on your shoulders properly. Shoulder-padding shouldn't be too heavy unless you want to look like the 70s. 
2. Waist of the jacket should be cut in the accentuate the waist of ladies. For lapels, you can either choose to go with classic wide lapels as what I worn here, or very slim lapels or none at all. Wider lapels will place heavier emphasis on the chest and shoulders.
3. Pants should be cut straight but with a slight flare at the ankles. Always go for comfortable, well-fitting pants which fits snugly at the thighs and then flare out slightly after the knee.
4. Crisp white shirts always work well, but go one size up. 
5. Add a bit of femininity to an otherwise manly ensemble by pairing it with court heels and a good handbag. Accessories should be discreet and elegant - no costume jewellery or bright colors. 

Non-boring Alternatives for the Little Black Dress

So many times at cocktail parties you see ladies wearing different variations of the Little Black Dress (aka LBD), and it's boring. So here I am telling you you can wear rompers at such events instead.

I love a well designed romper like this chic number from Finders Keepers the label. This comes in an extremely flattering cut - Deep V-neck on the front and then a relaxed straight cut down, and finished off with shorts with a tapered curve up. Now you don't have to worry about hiding your tummy after a dinner - this romper hides it for you! It can be dressed up or down depending on occassions -

Formal - Wear it with sleeves rolled down (full length sleeves), stiletto heels for a formal dinner, paired with chic gold accessories and chandelier earrings

Casual - With black sneakers and a sling bag

I find shopping online the best place to compare options, and massive e-tailers such as ASOS and Zalora would be great avenues to start off! You can find additional discount codes through CupoNation. Usually, when I shop online, I would first go to a retailer site that I love such as ASOS for clothes, or Luxola for some cult beauty brands etc, and then look on CupoNation to see if a discount code is available. If you shop for groceries online, there's discount codes for RedMart too! Super convenient.

- How to find a Romper for your body shape -

Generally, the below are the traits of a well cut romper.

1. Since rompers are essentially shorts with an attached top, you'd want to find one with shorts that is slightly loose-fitting on the bottom, since wearing slightly oversized clothes will make you appear slimmer. 
2. Most rompers come with an elastic in the middle. I look for rompers with an elastic band that is at my waist level. Wearing one that is at your hip level may make your body appear long and your legs shorter in comparison. This one that I'm wearing doesn't have an elastic (good for hiding food babies as discussed earlier). 
3. Find a romper that flaunts your assets! Deep V-cut rompers drawn more attention to the chest, while if you're not so well endowed, you can choose tube-style rompers to flaunt your shoulders. Basically, just work with what makes you feel the most comfortable and showcases the best of your body.

Moonriver - Digital Fashion Week

Wearing Finders Keepers 'Moonriver' dress from Eclecticism, Cambridge Satchel Co x Comme des Garcons leather satchel, Zalora label strappy silver heels, Accessories from Curated Editions & Xannareis

When you have good lighting, all it takes is 10 minutes for a quick shoot. I wore this beautiful print dress from Finders Keepers for Digital Fashion Week. Me and Phoebe shot this outside the show venue at National Design Centre just behind this huge lit-up balloon. I term this my Moonriver dress as I imagine this as how the moon were to look like if it were to melt into a river.

My love for Australian labels and designers never ends - strong prints, clean and simple silhouette but with tailored fits and edgy, unexpected details - totally things that I would look out for in an outfit. And thanks to Eclecticism, you can now shop all the popular Australian labels in Wheelock Place.