Travel – Page 6 – Regina Chow

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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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Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi Beach & Tamarama Beach

November 2, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Sculpture by the Sea is an annual sculpture exhibition on the eastern coast of Sydney. Beautifully crafted sculptures line Tamarama Beach and Bondi Beach, injecting an artistic vibe to the coastlines!

Beach culture is prevalent all over Australia, which works in my favour because I love hanging out at the beach! I know it’s hard to believe that someone like me, who shies away from the sun and doesn’t swim at all, can actually take a fancy to the beach, but there’s something about the crashing waves and soft, pristine sand that sets my heart aflutter.

I adore art exhibitions as well, simply because it is interesting to see how creative ideas are transformed into works of art. The fruits of labour are often unexpected, or even incomprehensible in some cases, but the element of surprise is very intriguing indeed.

This dome installation is one of my favourites. Who would have thought of rolling up colourful t-shirts to create roses? The enchanting visual impact is a testament of the artist’s ingenuity!

Here are some of the other artworks that caught my eye:

We parked at Tamarama Beach and walked all the way to Bondi, enjoying the sights along the way. Sydney has no lack of gorgeous beaches, but Bondi beach is definitely the place to be seen. It is no surprise that it is the most crowded of all beaches, because this is where all the action is!

We were there on a Wednesday, but look at how crowded the beach was!

Time to quench our thirst on a scorching hot day!

What more could you ask for when you have a spectacular view of the beach and its glorious waves?

This is my idea of a perfect afternoon. Sipping on fresh juice and gazing at the vast ocean is so relaxing and therapeutic, I feel like I’m in paradise.

Now that the weather is warmer, I’ve been heading out more often for a spot of beach therapy! I always feel rejuvenated after a day at the beach.

What about you? Do you love beaches too? 🙂

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Younger Skin with Skinbiotics!

October 29, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

I’m sure many of you would have heard of Skinbiotics, the latest skin supplement in town which is endorsed by Fann Wong and is currently available at all Watsons stores.

Skinbiotics is an oral beauty supplement developed to increase cell regeneration and treat specific skin problems from within. There’s only so much that topical creams and lotions can do for your skin, beyond which we have to rely on oral supplements to plug the gap.

I’ve been using the same skincare regime from DRx for years because it works well for
me. My dermatologist, Dr SK Tan, changed my regime slightly (in place
of Lightener and Vit-A gel, I now use Max-C, a Vitamin C gel for cell
renewal and ARC for lightening pigmentation). But age has taken a toll on my skin, and even with the best skincare around, it is difficult to keep pigmentation and fine lines at bay when I’m fast approaching 30! At age 29 (2 more months before the big 3-0), the main issues that I face now are slight pigmentation on my cheekbones due to sun exposure, fine expression lines on my forehead and deeper laugh lines.

I was initially skeptical of what Skinbiotics could do, especially in terms of reducing fine lines, but I decided to give it a go! I have been on
Reactiv 01 for 4 weeks now and while I didn’t see much of a difference in the first 2-3 weeks, I can now see that my skin tone is
more even than before, my pigmentation spots are lighter and amazingly, the appearance of my fine lines and laugh lines has improved
significantly! In fact, I realized the positive effects of Skinbiotics are even more obvious in photos. Pictures do say a thousand words!

I don’t use powder foundation anymore these days, but one skincare product that I can never do without is my tinted sunscreen from DRx, simply because UV rays are usually the culprit for premature aging, wrinkles and pigmentation. The sun in Australia is also much harsher (skin cancer is the most common type of cancer here), so sun protection is my top priority!

But, sunscreen alone is never enough. Did you know that the sun rays consist of 7% UVA, UVB rays and 44% visible blue light? Although I slather on sunscreen and avoid the sun like the plague now, most sunscreen products are only able to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, leaving your skin vulnerable to visible blue light which we are all exposed to even when we’re indoors!

The breakthrough ingredient in Skinbiotics is a microalgae called Algaplex, which promotes cell regeneration and protects your skin from UV rays. In addition, Skinbiotics also contains Solaplex, an oral sunscreen that protects your skin from UVA, UVB and visible blue light, thus giving your skin 7 times more UV protection!!

With Skinbiotics, I am now able to look forward to better skin protection and younger looking skin everyday!

Skinbiotics has three different types of pills to combat skin problems at every stage of your life. Now, I’m thinking of getting the Reactiv 02 for my mum to try out!

For those of you who want to get your Skinbiotics fix, you can get them at Watsons. Each box retails at S$138 or S$148, depending on the type of supplement that you choose.

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Rosebullet and Tattoos

October 28, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

I love Japanese labels for their easy-to-wear feminine designs, petite sizing and excellent workmanship. Labels such as Rosebullet and Dip Drops may be slightly pricier than what you would typically find at Far East Plaza, but trust me, the quality is unrivaled.

I was ecstatic when my good friend, Grace, who knows that I have a soft spot for Japanese labels, kindly offered to help me purchase this beautiful angora set by Rosebullet with her discount vouchers!

I was over the moon when I received this. The weather in Sydney still dips well below 20 degrees on certain days, so this angora set is perfect for keeping warm without me having to layer extensively.

The tattoo stockings trend probably hasn’t caught on very much in Singapore, but they can easily be found in Hong Kong and Japan. Surprise surprise…this pair of Japanese tattoo stockings was from Kinokuniya. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that bookstores would resort to selling stockings. I guess times are hard these days, especially with the invention of eBooks. Nobody goes to bookstores for books anymore!

Anyhow, I was sold the minute I saw the cute little bows. They’re adorable, aren’t they? Kinokuniya should seriously consider diversifying into stockings. 😛

Angora top and tulle dress from Rosebullet

Tattoo stockings from Kinokuniya

Pumps from Chanel

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Lipstick Review: Rimmel Moisture Renew in Nude Delight & Lustre Finish in Candy

October 17, 2012 by Regina Chow 4 Comments

I bought 2 Rimmel lipsticks on a whim from Priceline recently, thanks to its “buy 1 get 1 free” offer. At just A$14.95 for two lipsticks, I thought it was a great bargain.

These are the lipsticks that I bagged: Rimmel’s Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight (the peachy nude lipstick above) and Lustre Finish in Candy (the frosty pink lipstick).

Nude Delight needs no introduction as it is such a popular nude lipstick with beauty bloggers. I first saw it on Style Suzie’s blog and thought it looked lovely on her.

Here’s what Nude Delight looks like on me:

Unlike MAC’s Angel, which is slightly more pinkish in tone, Rimmel’s Moisture Renew Nude Delight is a true nude shade with peachy undertones. What I like most about this lipstick is the colour. It delivers a creamy, barely there shine which is great for everyday wear.

The only problem I have with this lipstick is that it’s rather drying and believe me, if you wear this alone without any lip balm, you’ll discover lines on your lips that you’ve never seen before.

Here’s what Candy looks like on me:

I am generally not a fan of frosty lipsticks because they tend to be overly shimmery and difficult to carry off, but I was pleasantly surprised by Rimmel’s Lustre Finish in Candy. I was half-suspecting that I would turn out looking like a disco ball, but what I got instead was a subtle sheen with just a hint of shimmer. The glossy pale pink finish is perfect for days when I wear less make-up. It works almost like a clear lip gloss with shimmer.

I’m going to sport these lip colours a lot more these days so I can give my MAC and YSL a breather. Out of these 3 brands, YSL is still the best in terms of lasting power and hydration, but for the extremely pocket-friendly price-tag, Rimmel does a wonderful job too as long as you remember to take your lip balm with you everywhere! 😉

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Chilly Days

October 13, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Just when we thought Spring was here, we were all caught by surprise when the weather took a turn for the worst yesterday, with heavy rainfall and temperatures dipping way below 10 degrees. It was so chilly, it snowed in Blue Mountains!

Unpredictable weather changes call for an entire change of wardrobe. Hence, gone are the t-shirts and shorts. Instead, here I am, back in my fall/winter wear.

This dark green jumper from Japanese label Dip Drops is one of my favourite pieces for fall. It came as a set together with a coffee bean print blouse and is so easy to match. I’ve worn the set previously, but to refresh your memory, click on the link below to see what it looks like:

Schoolgirl vs Granny

JW bought this pair of black rimmed spectacles for me from a stationery shop at Leura. It is sooo cool because the spectacle frame is held by 2 black pens which rest perfectly on your ears just like a normal pair of specs. I’m going to bring this with me everywhere! It’s bound to be an excellent conversation starter. 😉

Jumper from Dip Drops

Mustard Cardigan from Singapore

Hat from Forever New

Garter stockings from Topshop

Shoes from Aldo

Glomesh bag from Vintage shop in Katoomba

While I continue praying for sunny days ahead, I hope everyone out there is enjoying their weekend so far! 🙂

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What’s in My Handbag?

October 11, 2012 by Regina Chow 3 Comments

Recently, I decided to reorganize the contents of handbag because it was getting way too heavy for my petite frame and I was starting to get backaches. You know how some girls like to bring their entire bedroom (excluding clothes) out with them? Erm, yes I was guilty of that.

So, after a massive cleanup, I thought I’d share what’s in my handbag now. I can do without a mobile phone (yes I’m serious!), but not without these. These are my absolute must-haves.

(Clockwise from top)

1) Watsons Baby Wipes – Singaporeans would exclaim at how “auntie” I am, but honestly, I can’t live without wet wipes! It cleans everything and this particular type that I have has the most amazing floral scent.

2) Chanel wallet – I am generally more accustomed to long wallets and have gone through a couple of Prada ones (I still use a long Prada wallet when I’m in Singapore) but this Chanel wallet is so compact and durable, I love using it when I’m overseas.

3) Blink Intensive Tears eyedrops – The climate in Australia is pretty dry, and since I use contact lenses, eye drops are a must for me.

4) Duo adhesive eyelash glue – I carry this around for emergency touch-ups as I usually have falsies on.

5) Loccitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream – This was a gift from Felicia because she knew I can’t live without hand creams. I like the light texture, which absorbs into your skin instantly. Comes with a sweet cherry blossom scent too!

6) Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream – I carry 2 hand creams with me in case 1 runs out. I know, I think of everything! Haha. The Jurlique hand cream is richer than the Loccitane one. It’s my holy grail, especially during the cold and dry winter months. It’s probably the best hand cream I’ve ever used and I’m planning to buy another tube soon.

7) Lucas Pawpaw Ointment – This is one of the best multipurpose balms that you can ever find. I use this as a lipbalm because my lips are perpetually chapped but this works as an ointment for boils, burns, chafing, cuts, cracked skin, gravel, rash, splinters, open wounds, insect bites and nappy rash. Yes I just copied that off the back of the tube. I’ve actually tried it on cracked skin and it works!

8) MAC Angel Lipstick – I hardly use lipsticks but I carry two around just in case I need that extra perk-me-up on days when I’m tired. This is my favourite nude lipstick as the pinkish undertones ensure that I don’t look pale and sickly.

9) YSL Rouge Volupte #8 – This is a creamy blue-based pink hue with an opaque finish that glides onto your lips effortlessly. I like that it is highly pigmented and one stroke is all you need. The Rouge Volupte range has a very creamy formula which keeps your lips moisturized the entire day. The colour also stays so incredibly well that there are times when I don’t need to touch up even after a meal. I use this on days when I want a stronger lip to lend a touch of colour to my face.

This is what it looks like on me (I dabbed on the lipstick instead for a more sheer finish):

Hope you enjoyed this post! 🙂

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Coffee and Snacks at Common Ground Cafe

October 10, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Tucked in the corner along the streets of Katoomba is a gem of a cafe waiting to be unraveled.

I’ve heard so much about the beautiful decor of Common Ground Cafe from JW and friends. Coupled with the fact that it is ranked #2 on Tripadvisor’s list of restaurants in Katoomba, it was only natural that I had high expectations of this cafe.

And now for the moment of truth. I was enthralled by my surroundings the moment I stepped foot in this cozy cafe. The rustic decor and folk music wafting through the air reminded me of the set of Lord of the Rings. At that instant, we felt almost like hobbits returning to our humble abode!

We were led to a corner seat by one of the friendly owners (this cafe was set up by a group of friends). The story behind the setting up of this cafe is a meaningful one. The owners envisioned the cafe to be a place where human beings can all see beyond our own differences (wealth, rank etc.) into the hearts of others and eventually find a common ground where our hearts can find peace.

A common misconception that most people have about this place is that it is a Christian cafe. Instead, this cafe is operated by members of a Messianic community called The Twelve Tribes (they believe in Jesus too). Some articles claim that it is a cult that advocates female submission and disciplining children with canes, but from the looks of it, the people here seem more peace-loving and kind than anything else.

For those of us who grew up in Asian societies, didn’t your parents use the cane on you when you were young? I for one, remember my mum using it on my brother and I when we were naughty, and while I don’t endorse this method of disciplining a child, I knew my mum did it entirely out of good intentions. Caning and lectures usually went hand in hand. But at the end of the day, I guess what matters is that both my brother and I turned out well! 😉

The food here is lovingly made with wholesome ingredients. I had the cheese and tomato melt (A$5.00) while JW had the BBQ Chicken Burger (A$11.50). All in all, I would say the food is very reasonably priced, tasty and not to mention healthy!

According to JW, who’s now a hardcore coffee addict, the coffee here is the best he has tried thus far in the Sydney and Blue Mountains region. So coffee lovers, now you know where to go.

We liked the cafe so much that we took Felicia there on our next trip during the Leura Festival. More on that in a separate post. 😉

Remember to visit this quaint cafe if you’re planning to visit Katoomba at the Blue Mountains. It’s certainly an experience that you’ll never forget. 😉

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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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