Team spirit

I'm sure you guys are among the one billion people worldwide who watched the recent Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony in London. And having a fashion-centric mind I could not help but to fuss about the uniforms of various contingents...

Too bad that a lot of the European contingents opted to stick to their usual nine-to-five business casual look, which I think is very sad. I mean, bring your nations' identity for the world to see, people! But of course a sporty look that is both smart and can represent your country, colour-wise. Case in point: the American team. Never mind the furor over the "made in China" controversy and the French-inspired berets, I think Ralph Lauren did a good job designing the teams outfits. "American preppy look" is what I was reminded of instantly.

 The American team Olympics Opening Ceremony uniform, designed by Ralph Lauren

Despite the classic sportswear look I do love team Netherlands' clever use of colour-blocking. Orange and navy blue looks pretty good in this case. VERY Jil Sander SS2011.

 Team Japan's striking red-and-white, on the other hand, can be mistaken for Chinese/ Canadian/ Singaporean teams' outfits.

Team Russia looks cool in this ensemble. Are those linen jackets? I'm dying to see a close-up of their uniform - look at the dark purplish pattern on the guy's shirt! And The Romanian team's choice of colour also caught my eyes - the mustard-grey combo is visually fetching.

The Swedish, on the other hand, can be way too practical sometimes. I like IKEA but rugby shirts and sneakers with colours that match the flag and grey cotton trousers? Come on, I think you guys are more creative than that. But on a lighter note, this is what I used to wear to the mall during my high school years. Ha! 

Harping on about creativity, the Germans evidently has proven be the creative lot with their reversible sports jacket. ( I know, the "pink for girls and blue for boys" idea is a bit off). But it the versatility of the jacket (which has a more formal inside layer) that is important.

Czech Republic is among, if not the most unique teams that night. This team was absolutely ready for the grey and rainy London with their umbrellas and wellies. 

Talking about national identity, there are a few teams which really went all out in portraying what their country is generally all about. My firm favorites are Mexico, Gambia and the Philippines. And a couple of images of female Muslim athletes modestly covered in hijab - simply beautiful.

The Philippines team in the Barong Tagalog-esque uniform.

Interesting latex-like fabric on Gambian athletes.

 Iranian athletes in modest hijabs.

 Leave it to the Mexicans when it comes to colour and personality. I absolutely adore all the combinations of hues, patterns and embroideries on the ponchos. Liking the fact that they look as if there was no uniform at all - just a colourful parade of mariachi band.

How about Malaysia, the country that always tries hard to expose their nation's identity, I hear you say? Obviously everything is too literal in this contingent - that all-too-familiar tiger stripes; yellow-orange and the red, which unmistakably represents courage and speed? And is that even Malaysian batik? Or just a cheap generic print on cheap polyester fabric? I refuse to comment further. Well, at least I do see some traditional garb here (tengkolok aka the headpiece and the sampin/ sarong).

Anyhow, feel free to laugh at my measly attempt on re-interpreting the casual/sporty sports event opening ceremony look:

Thrifted Tesco blazer, Cheap Monday jeans, Jil Sander shoes, Uniqlo hat, eBay sunglasses, U2 t-shirt, fourskin belt

*Images of Olympics contingents courtesy of adkinsrin.blogspot.com, yahoo.com, google.com

SIBF: DAY ONE

So I am in Singapore right now for Singapore International Band Festival 2012. Sekolah Seri Puteri Wind Orchestra team is participating in this prestigious biennial event for the second time now in Division II category (for high school institutions).

I am obviously not an alumnus from this school (well SSP is an all-girls boarding so…) but the orchestra team is under the tutelage of a dear friend of mine, YM Raja Muzafar Syah for more than 5 years now.

Here are some photos of what happened yesterday during their rehearsal session at Nanyang Insitute of Education. More coming up!

Paisley-ed

It's so easy to give titles my outfits posts nowadays. Add an '-ed' suffix to any noun and bam, I'm ready to go. Batik-ed, paisley-ed. What's next? Baju Kurung-ed in Marc Jacobs Resort 2013 perhaps?

And I probably should have named this entry 'Unflatteringly Bulbous Silhouette with Hairy Chicken Legs' as well. But I simply can't. In fact, I am refraining myself to do so. It's all because of this dirt cheap haul from MUSA sale, currently ongoing. (I said dirt cheap as the dirt that my mother buys to supplement her bougainvilleas is in fact, priced a tad higher). Previous season's House of Holland and Peter Jensen at a very very competitive price made me cross my comfort zone of streamlined clothes to a rather experimental one:

Now you can see why I should've named this post 'Unflatteringly Bulbous Silhouette with Hairy Chicken Legs'  - the illusion of big beer belly by this House of Holland's shirt, only enhanced by the jodhpur shorts by Peter Jensen. Anyhow, this latest find further propagates my love of paisley motifs...

Paisley bandana prints played a major role in House of Holland's AW2011 collection. Heavily influenced by the Eighties, he managed to update the retro look with that certain sassiness, which translates into commercial success. 

House of Holland paisley shirt, Peter Jensen linen jodhpurs shorts, Tophop studded shoes, Comme des Garcons pouch

Runway image of Peter Jensen, the Laurie collection SS2010. It clearly shows that the jodhpur fits the model better than my grizzly, stunted legs. (The hip-bearing look is previously loved by me in this post.) But the linen material makes it a good pair of summer shorts, nevertheless!

The old Topshop studded shoes, which, in my feeble attempt to augment by adding customised foam soles, have caused them to be quite unwearable. I mean, I can't even walk straight without having them accidentally pulled off of my feet. Oh well...
Happy Sunday!

BEHIND THE SCENE: DIOR A/W '12 AUTUMN WINTER SET

Watch this behind-the –scene video as the production team painstakingly build the elaborative floral set for Raf Simons’ couture debut for the house of Christian Dior in Paris earlier this month.

Thousands over thousands of at least 5 different flowers were involved in the making-peonies, goldenrod, dahlias, carnations, delphiniums, orchids and all kind of were beautifully hand-placed across 5 salons  from floor to ceiling in the house’s atelier on Avenue Montaigne.

The new, modern take on theatricality at this prestigious fashion house. 

OROTON AUTUMN WINTER 2012 PRESS PREVIEW

The Australian fashion scene has once been said is about one to two years behind the European market in its trend. This may be due to various factors; including when Paris is welcoming chinchilla jackets on the runway Melbourne and Sydney is lathering tanning lotion and rocking out in flip-flops. But that is not the case with Oroton Autumn Winter 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection. Presented on the runway during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Sydney last May, Creative Director Ana Maria Escobar belted out a fresh and fun collection in the form of retro-inspired ‘Rope’ prints, disco-ready sequined shifts and the bold presence of glo-mesh (Oroton’s signature) in many of the looks (my favourite: meshed collar of a pale white silk shirt) and of course, the lust-worthy accessories collection.

We attended a press review of their Autumn Winter 2012 collection held for Malaysian medias in Kuala Lumpur last week. It was hosted in one of the suite at the top floor of Westin Hotel.



The Anouk clutches in tantalising colours from hot fuchsia to tortoiseshell decorated the living area. At one corner, a selection of Archive mini bags were arranged elegantly on a worktop. The LCD TV was playing their latest RTW show complete with behind-the-scenes footages and front-row interviews while the guests enjoyed light breakfast buffet with freshly-brewed cup of coffee.

We were then escorted into the bedroom of the suite where the ready-to-wear collection was presented complete with models as mannequins to model the samples they had. Costume jewelries were placed in the side drawers to complement the RTW line. Small selection of men’s leather goods were laid elegantly on a day bed ranges from iPad cases, wallets, portfolios and briefcases.

What I find intriguing about Oroton leather goods range is the fact that only oil vegetable leather is used in the production of each pieces. Some of the textures are too supple and soft we’ve mistaken it for a nappa leather only to be corrected by the store manager that it was actually made of CALF!

At first sight, below bags might look as if they’re made of python, right? Boy, I was wrong. No exotics were used in their leather goods production. What you see is actually calf leather that has been re-grained to look like a python (with almost python-like texture too!)

Exciting news for local fashionista as Oroton is opening their fourth store in Kuala Lumpur by early next month. The new flagship will be in Pavilion and will house complete collection of the leather good accessories alongside the costume jewelry and the above ready-to-wear line.

CORRECTUM: Original post was mistakenly titled 'OROTON SPRING SUMMER 2012 PRESS REVIEW'. Apologies!

MUSA FOREVER

Musa Kuala Lumpur is embarking on a new project, and as a consequence they are having a warehouse sale - an effort to clear up their space. It's located at their office in Danau Kota. I'm not exaggerating when I say most of the items are discounted up to 90percent! Hence even the pricier labels like Gareth Pugh, Christopher and Margiela seemed much affordable now.

I should just shut up and let the pictures do the talking...

Maison Martin Margiela x Opening Ceremony faux fur coat

 Christopher Kane Lava Lamp collection  at 90% off! Better than Kane's sample sale I guarantee! This makes me have a delayed response of buyer's remorse. (I picked it up at a much heftier price tag)

 Prolific London-based accessories by Mawi going off for RM50 each (retailed at around RM1000 )

 Sunglasses at RM200

 The denim section is the best - Naked and Famous, Cheap Monday at cheaper prices 

 Men's Jean-Baptiste Rautureau shoes at RM200 - RM250

 Furniture is also apparently on sale - this bar stool is sold at RM80

 Raf by Raf Simons graphic tees and crisp shirts.

 Henry Holland's stuff going at pasar malam rate- RM30 for the paisley print shirts.

Beautiful python-effect leather shoulders from Milia M

Edgy shoe label Atalanta Weiler is marked down to RM250 - RM300

What are you waiting for? Bring your friends and families immediately! Please note that only cash will be accepted for transaction.