IN THE TROPICS

                                                   

                       

               13 hours stuck in a metal flying tin-can - #Igotofftheplanelikethis

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Singapore; temperature currently 34 degrees Celsius and humidity truly suffocating.

Despite this, I am very glad to be back in Singapore visiting family and having the occasional shopping spree for things you can only find in the Far-East. I’m very glad to be able to gorge the foods I have missed which you can see from the couple of kgs I've put on in one week. I’m glad to see the spotless, chewing gum-free streets, the hordes of taxis of which are impossible to hail when you need one most, the never ending stream of grandiose shopping centres/malls lining Orchard Road, the ‘aunties’ ’ indistinguishable haggling at markets, the around-the-clock building work…the list goes on. The West and the East are completely different from each other in appearance and culture, both great in their own right, but something I truly appreciate as it allows me to escape from one world to another.

To go along with the tropical climate scene, palm leaves must of course make an appearance. I can't help but feel the black accented strips over the deep cobalt blue top add a retro vibe to a modern cut which makes me feel like I should be wondering on a street in Palm Springs. This is the silkiest item I've ever worn, and the loose fit that beckons for a no-bras day (hurrah) is definitely perfect for the 34 degrees, perspiration-inducing climate. One of my faves this summer.

On the other hand, when did it ever become a good idea to wear a pleather skirt in this heat? I shall try to justify! With wearing prints, there are two ways:

1) Mix prints - one of the prints larger and bolder, and the other less dominating will work well together, as well as having similar colour palettes.

2) Texture - keep the other piece plain but use an interesting texture

I went with the latter as I wanted to highlight the black from the top so not to make the intense cobalt blue too overwhelming if matched with other prints.

That's all for today - off to be a self-proclaimed food critic.

Let me know what you think, x

Zara Leaf Print Silk Top

Zara Pleather Skirt

H & M Necklace

NOSTALGIA

                                                                  Zara White Shirt // Zara Floral Shorts // Birkenstock Pink Slippers

I've been loving almost everything in Zara at the moment, although not a surprise as they've been spot on with all the latest trends recently. To celebrate my last day of school I went out for a cheeky shopping trip and what I came home with was a white, oversized shirt. I feel like every girl needs a classic, white shirt in their wardrobe; one of my favourite Vogue covers of all time is the 100th anniversary supermodel special with the likes of Claudia, Naomi and Cindy dressed in a white button up shirt to celebrate the garment's test of time. What I love about this new twist on the classic is the high neckline, boxy fit and slight crop which compliments my petite frame so well. I can't wait to see how many outfits I can conjure with this baby!

Shimin

X

MY 'MOMS'

These white distressed Mom jeans from Topshop are everything! Can't wait to try out more looks with them.

At first I cringed at the £40 price tag but they are so worth it. They pair up perfectly with so many pieces in my spring/summer wardrobe that I'm sure I'll wear them out by the time winter rolls around, and even then will I be rocking these.

I paired it with a plain grey tee for a casual feel and beige but I can see myself throwing on an oversized blazer for a more formal gathering. Great investment for those who want a nice pair of summer trousers!

                Mom jeans: Topshop         Beige jacket: Topshop          Grey Tee: Miss Selfridge      Sandals: River Island                        Belt: New Look          Bag: Zara

Instagram: @shimin_lu

VINTAGE JACKET AND PLEATHER SKIRT

So I guess this is my first blog post...and the extent of my English GCSE.

As the weather in England has started becoming warmer and I now don't have to leave the house feeling as if I've gone through a car wash, I often find myself grabbing for my vintage cotton jacket passed down from my (surprisingly) fashionable mother. There is something very charming about wearing clothes from a previous era; it just gives a nod to the old that has sculpted today's new. I obsess over its oversized fit and the way it hangs effortlessly on my body. It doesn't drown me, something which I find a lot of oversized clothes do. Of course, rolling up the sleeves helped a lot, and gives the whole outfit an overall casual feel.

The way I style vintage pieces is by pairing them with a more modern material which is why I opted for a pleather skirt with shoelace detailing for some edge. The skirt is rather tight-fitting which balances the bagginess of the jacket perfectly so that I can show a bit of shape without being too revealed. The stripped top gives the whole thing texture and interest in a very neutral, one-dimensional look.

Jacket: Vintage Sisley       Striped Cropped Top: Zara        Pleather Skirt: Zara        Sandals: River Island