Sydney 2012 – Regina Chow

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Fashion Trend: Are you up for Scarves?

December 6, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Scarves are perhaps the most versatile accessories anyone could have. Ornate, standout prints are great for jazzing up a plain top or dress, and the best part is, you can wear them in more ways than one! I started incorporating scarves into my wardrobe lately and I am happy to report that I am more than satisfied with the number of styles I can create with just a handful of scarves!

Scarf and Hat from Forever New

Black pumps from Chanel

Black Tank from Bangkok

Ruffle Skirt given by Sushi

I went for a preppy chic look with my newly acquired Forever New scarf tied in the style of a girl scout. And just like that, it single-handedly transformed my otherwise boring black tank top into a cute and stylish one! I carried my fashion experiment further by pairing the top and scarf with a ruffle skirt given to me by Sushi and voila, I looked like I put on a fancy little dress. The next time you think you’re running out of clothes to wear, remember that a scarf may just be what you need! 😉

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A Walk in Fagan Park

December 5, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

By the time you read this, I would already be in New Zealand for a 15-day trip. I am a city girl at heart, but I am just as awed by the beauty of nature and the sense of serenity it evokes. A concrete jungle lined with rows of retail shops may be my cup of tea, but sometimes, I just want to get away from the main artery of the city and retreat into a land where all I see are trees, flowers and birds.

Sydney is perhaps the most bustling city in Australia, but it has its fair share of sprawling nature parks and trails, mere steps away from the horrendous traffic. One such park is Fagan Park, located in the neighbourhood of Dural.

It’s incredible how quiet and tranquil this part of the city is. There was hardly anyone in sight!

Fagan Park pays homage to gardens from different countries. The gardens aren’t particularly well-maintained, but I do like the fact that they’re very secluded and you can just while your afternoon away in the company of nature.

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Strawberry and Watermelon Cake

December 3, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

Nestled in a quiet spot away from the heaving Newtown traffic, Black Star Pastry is home to an assortment of delightful pies and desserts. My favourite dessert here is its popular strawberry and watermelon cake, sprinkled with slivered pistachios and rose petals.

It’s hard not to fall in love with such a beautiful yet wholesome cake, especially when it is devoid of sinful layers of sweet cream. Made of two layers of almond dacquoise, succulent strawberries and watermelon laced with just a hint of whipped cream, this cake definitely aims to please. More importantly, it tastes refreshingly light and every bite sends you to dessert nirvana.

Just thinking about it now makes me salivate. Need I say more? 🙂

Black Star Pastry
277 Australia Street, Newtown
Tel: +61 (02) 9557 8656

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Family in Town!

December 1, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

My inlaws were in town last week, with my sis-in-law being the first to arrive. The first couple of days were spent shopping, eating and camwhoring all over town. I know, I’m a girl, but the boundless energy that we girls have when it comes to shopping never fails to amaze me.

Birkenhead Point is a must for all shopaholics in Sydney, because that’s where they house outlet stores for Australian brands such as Alannah Hill, Forever New, Witchery, Mimco and Review, just to name a few. We spent hours there on the second day, much to the dismay of the hubs.

Camwhoring at Forever New, Birkenhead Point

Sportsgirl was having a massive sale, and that was where we spent the bulk of our time along George Street.

It was an eventful day, to say the least, culminating in dinner with Pei at Darling Harbour followed by obligatory shots along the Harbour.

I think everyone except JW had a ball of a time because most of our time was spent shopping and taking photos (he’s the default photographer although he has absolutely no interest in it whatsoever). To his credit, his photography skills are improving by leaps and bounds! He deserves a pat on the back for sure! Ok, I’ll throw in a massage too.

Outfit from Dip Drops

Boots from random shop in Bondi

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Palm Beach & Avalon Beach

November 25, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

We’re leaving Sydney very soon and while I do miss Singapore very much, I know I’ll really miss the pristine beaches, many of which remain untouched by commercialization.

Two of such beaches are Palm Beach and Avalon Beach, tucked safely away from civilization in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.

We were the only visitors at Avalon Beach that day. Time seemed to stand still as we watched the waves crashing against the beach and felt the soft sand beneath our feet.

Secluded beaches like this are hard to come by these days, and there are times when I wonder why Australians venture abroad to Bali etc. when there are so many gorgeous beaches right at their doorstep.

The Palm Beach vicinity may be home to the rich and famous, but likewise, the beach is untainted by any signs of development and absolutely perfect for relaxing on a sunny afternoon.

Monokini from Valleygirl

The beaches at Manly and Bondi are immensely popular spots for people watching, but if you crave a little quiet time alone, away from the hustle and bustle, Palm Beach and Avalon Beach may just be your cup of tea. To me at least, these are the best kept secrets of Sydney. 😉

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Mentaiko Pasta

November 21, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

I haven’t been cooking much in Australia, but ever since I tried the mentaiko pasta at Porcorosso, I’ve been curious about the possibility of making it on my own. This isn’t much of a recipe actually because lazy me would never make sauce from scratch. I went to the Asian supermarket to get prepacked mentaiko sauce just to try it out.

Each pack (priced at A$4.20) comes with mentaiko sauce and seaweed (2 packets each) and makes a great meal for two!

I tend to be very picky about the texture of my pasta, so these are the steps that I would usually take to ensure my pasta tastes exactly the way I like it:

Step 1: Boil pasta in water together with a dash of sea salt and olive oil

Step 2: Drain pasta with strainer the minute it is cooked, douse it in cold water before draining it again

Step 3: Finally, fry pasta with butter in the pan together with prawns

What I love about the prepacked mentaiko sauce is, after cooking your pasta, all you have to do is mix in the sauce (without cooking), top it off with the seaweed provided and voila, you’re done!

The verdict? This recipe promises to tantalize your tastebuds with every bite, even if you weren’t a mentaiko fan to begin with! JW
is now a mentaiko pasta convert, and as for me, I would never splurge on
another plate of mentaiko pasta at a restaurant again!

Trust me, this home-cooked mentaiko pasta tastes just as good, if not better. 😉

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Arm Cuffs – The Alternative to Bangles and Bracelets

November 20, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

Before you think this post is gonna be about something remotely kinky, please get your head out of the gutter mister. 😉

Sorry to disappoint you. I actually just meant to show pics of my latest accessory, a matt gold arm cuff from Diva. I’ve been wearing a lot of basic tops lately, which makes accessorizing a necessity, and I’m absolutely loving how a simple geometric arm cuff like this adds panache to my otherwise plain outfit. It makes a great arm swag and the best part is, you don’t have to think about coordinating your stash of bangles and bracelets. How convenient!

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Ways to Wear a Tweed Jacket

November 16, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Tweed jackets are usually meant for the office, but all fashion rules are meant to be broken and tweaked to your advantage. Spice up a t-shirt and jeans combo with a tweed jacket and you’ll not only look chic, smart and absolutely stylish, you’ve also given your office wear a new lease of life. Talk about wardrobe optimization!

You can even pair it with a simple tee and shorts! It’s amazing how a colourful tweed jacket like this mint one from Zara can transform a white tee and shorts combination into a fashion statement. And there, we have another combo to add to my How to Wear a Basic Tee post!

If you prefer preppy or more feminine styles (like me), perhaps you could try wearing your tweed jacket like this:

Korean tweed jacket

White peter pan collar blouse from Dip Drops

Floral skorts from Liz Lisa

I also added a monochrome statement neck piece to match the black trimmings on the tweed jacket. In fact, everything else besides the floral skorts is in monochromatic shades to pull the entire look together. Hope you like this look as much as I do!

image credits: fabsugar.com

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Dress up your Denim Shorts!

November 12, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to bare those gorgeous gams. And what better way to begin than with a pair of classic denim shorts! Everyone has a pair of denim shorts in their wardrobe because they never do go out of style, do they?

Instead of pairing denim shorts, especially cut-offs (my favourite!) with the quintessential white t-shirt, or the much sought-after midriff top this season, here’re 3 ways to dress up your denim shorts and NOT look like you’re heading to the beach!

1) Wear it with a Tailored Shirt

Nothing says chic like a tailored shirt worn with rugged denim shorts. A pair of pointy mules or studded platforms pulls the entire look together. Notice how the casual vibe remains but the style meter has shot up by leaps and bounds?

2) Wear it with a Feminine Blouse

Take a cue from editor Miroslava Duma (who always looks effortlessly stylish by the way) and match your most feminine, billowy blouses with your grunge denim cut-offs. These two unexpected styles work like a dream together, don’t you think? Prettifying your rugged shorts has never been easier. 😉

3) Wear it with Bold, Graphic, Crazy Prints

If the previous 2 looks are too mild for you, jazz up your denims with the craziest prints you can find in your wardrobe, ala style icon Miroslava Duma (yes, again!). Load up on edgy accessories in complementary shades to perfect the look!

Now, which of the looks do you like the most? The last look is my favourite because I love the element of surprise created by the mish mesh of prints, colours and denim. The entire outfit screams “Look at me!”. In a good way of course.

Finally, here’s my take on dressing up my denim cut-offs for a casual weekend lunch.

Printed collar sweater from Dip Drops (www.dipdrops.jp)

Vintage denim cutoffs from Glebe Markets

Black booties from Bondi

image credits: www.cosmoplitan.com.au, www.pinterest.com

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How to Wear a Basic Tee

November 4, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Miranda Kerr

My friends would know that I’m probably the last person on earth to take a liking to basic tees, simply because I am such a huge fan of details, especially feminine details like lace, tulle, crochet and floral prints.

Well, things have changed. I recently added two plain basic tees (nude and white ones) to my wardrobe because I’ve finally come to realize how incredibly versatile they are.

Not convinced? Let’s take a cue from the celebs!

Vintage

Eva Mendes

If you love vintage style (like me!), you can pair a plain white tee with a retro print maxi skirt for a more feminine look, just like what Eva Mendes did. Cinch your waist with a statement belt to pull the entire look together.

Work Chic

Kate Bosworth

The basic tee can take you to work too! Wear it with a high waisted skirt, like what Kate Bosworth did over here for dress-down Fridays or throw on a jacket and you’re all set for the boardroom. 😉

Cute & Whimsical

Gwyenth Paltrow

Wear a simple tee with bright colours to amp up the cute factor for the weekend! I like how Gwyenth Paltrow threw on a pair of printed platforms, lending a whimsical touch to the entire ensemble.

Rocker Chic

Ashley Simpson

An oversized graphic tee with jeans/leggings, complete with pointy pumps and a leather jacket can never go wrong, which explains why it’s so commonly seen on the streets! To stand out from the crowd, add a splash of colour (check out Ashley Simpson’s green sling bag) and bold prints (leopard print pumps in this case).

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, here’s how I have been wearing my basic white tee these days.

Tee from General Pants

Pink ribbed blazer and neon necklace from Forever New

I like to wear my basic tees with casual cotton blazers or brightly coloured ones that add an unexpected pop of colour to the otherwise neutral palette. I tried on this pink blazer from Forever New recently and I’m bent on getting it!

The other great thing about plain tees is that you always have room to dress it up with statement necklaces and accessories, so let your creative juices flow and unleash the fashionista in you!

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About Me

Hi! My name is Regina and I am a style, beauty and travel enthusiast who enjoys writing, photography and letting my creative juices flow.

My blogging journey has been nothing short of exciting. I was recently named the winner of Her World Magazine’s Estee Lauder Style Superstar Awards 2016. My blog was also awarded Best Fashion Blog (Grand Winner) at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. The year before that, it won Best Online Shopping Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.

Additionally, it is listed as one of the 10 interesting blogs on Singapore by AsiaWeb Direct (http://www-singapore.com/blogs.htm). I was also featured on both local and international mainstream media for my views on style, fashion and online shopping:

The Straits Times (14 Oct 2014)

The Business Times (14 Oct 2014)

My Paper (13 Oct 2014)

CNBC ("Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online" - 28 Dec 2014)

For advertorials/partnerships, feel free to contact me at regina.chow@gmail.com.

Thank you!

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