Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty & Travel Blog
Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: Maldives Resort Wear & Beach Essentials

November 14, 2014 by Regina Chow No Comments
It was an incredible feeling to have paradise right at my footsteps for a week. Maldives felt like a dream and heaven on earth is perhaps the only description that does any justice to its natural beauty.
I will be sharing more about my trip to Maldives in a separate post as the focus of today’s Fashion Fridays post will be on resort wear and beach essentials. If you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you might find some of these photos familiar.
Breezy Chiffon Outfits
I bought this purple cropped top and shorts set from Theory of Seven a while ago but never found the right opportunity to wear it until Maldives came along. 
The devil lies in the details and in this case, the cape-like chiffon layer attached to the shorts made this set absolutely irresistible. I love how it moves with the wind, as if it is performing a little dance accompanied by the peaceful waves gently lapping onto the shore.

Swimwear
Swimwear naturally comes to mind when you think about resort wear and beach essentials. This time, I packed enough swimwear to last me an entire week in Maldives. Here are just two of my favourite bikinis. They’re exceptionally well-made and fit petite ladies really well.

 3-piece Swimwear Set from Liz Lisa, Japan

Bikini from Victoria’s Secret

Crochet Cover-ups
I personally have a soft spot for crochet cover-ups and over the years, I have added more than a handful of these to my beachwear collection. This lovely crochet dress from Australian label Bardot is the perfect cover-up.
I didn’t actually get a tan as I kept spraying SPF50 sunblock regularly throughout the day, but this crochet piece must have been sprinkled with some magic dust. I was initially a little doubtful about the colour, but when I put it on, I realised it complemented my skin tone and even gave it a healthy tan and glow.



 Beach Essentials


Swimwear and beach coverups aside, here are some of the beach essentials that I cannot live without. If I were to choose one item to take with me on a beach vacation, sunblock would definitely rank first.
On this trip alone, I brought along two SPF50 sunblock sprays from Japan, two SPF50 sunblock gels for my face (from Kose and Clarins), and an SPF30 sunblock powder from Jane Iredale. I even brought along a lavender scented facial mist with SPF30 which I bought from Hokkaido in June!
The beauty about beach holidays is you don’t have to wear much make-up. The only make-up items I packed were my trusty Benefit Dandelion blusher, my favourite lipstick from Laneige in Spangle and Paw Paw Ointment (which I use as a lip balm). 

 


What about you? What are some of your beach essentials?

For more resort wear inspirations, do check out my previous post in the link below:
Have a great weekend ahead!
Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion: Rosebullet Fall 2014 Edit

October 6, 2014 by Regina Chow No Comments
I am a huge fan of Japanese fashion labels and Rosebullet is certainly one of my favourite brands to date. Needless to say, this post is brought to you in collaboration with Rosebullet, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with them.
“The Rosebullet girl is feminine and sexy, yet strong and independent. She revels in freedom, and loves to experiment. She is as soft as a petal, yet tough as a bullet.”
I view the way I dress as a means of communicating my personality, values and lifestyle with the people around me, and the very characteristics that the Rosebullet brand embodies are a perfect match with my personality and what I, as a woman, aim to achieve in life. 
“The Rosebullet girl is feminine and sexy, yet strong and independent.”
Rosebullet’s Fall 2014 collection has gone down a slightly different path this year. In place of the usual frilly, lacy dresses that are commonly associated with the label, this season’s collection boasts an interesting array of edgy and preppy ensembles that retain a hint of femininity.
You can expect to see preppy dungarees like this lovely monochrome checked one that resembles a grid of white square tiles marked by contrasting thin black lines. To add a pop of colour and amp up the feminine factor, pair it with a frilly top and suede lace-up booties in a trendy oxblood shade that’s perfect for fall.

Trendy shades of oxblood that are perfect for Fall

Clothes, Booties and Clutch from Rosebullet Edit (Orchard Gateway)// Cap from Forever New// Socks from Tutuanna (Japan)// Accessories from Chanel
Thinking of taking on the print-on-print trend? Perhaps you could attempt this method of styling. I basically took the black and white checks scheme a notch further by incorporating socks and a clutch (Feroux, from Rosebullet) in the same print and monochrome colour palette. In an interesting reversal of roles, black takes centerstage instead of white this time, adding greater contrast and a touch of boldness to the ensemble. 
If you have never tried the print-on-print trend, hopefully this gives you some inspiration to start experimenting!


To find out what else Rosebullet has in store this season and for more styling inspirations, do check out these fashion bloggers’ sites as well:


[(L-R): Me, Roxanne, Melissa, Carrie]
[(L-R): Me, Roxanne, Melissa, Carrie]

[(R-L): Me, Roxanne, Melissa, Carrie]

Photography Credits:
  
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Rosebullet. 

 

Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: Denim Dresses & How to Look Taller in Photos

October 3, 2014 by Regina Chow No Comments
 Denim is a staple in every wardrobe, but the only denim I used to have in my wardrobe comes in the form of denim jeans. Call me a late bloomer, but I have only just come to realize how versatile denim dresses actually are. In today’s edition of Fashion Fridays, you will see the latest addition to my denim dress collection (I have a grand total of erm..2 denim dresses now).
 Just like denim jeans, denim dresses are classic pieces that never go out of style. What’s great about denim dresses is that you can easily just throw them on and go without worrying about looking like a clown who dressed herself up in the dark. You’ll always look put together, thanks to the texture of the denim material which adds structure to your silhouette. The best part is, denim is one material that delivers comfort and durability like no other. 
I honestly don’t know what took me so long to jump onto the denim dress bandwagon, but as always, it’s better late than never.

Dress from Ching
Shoes from Sophia Webster
 Bag and brooch from Chanel
On a somewhat different note, I have been told on many occasions that I look very tall in photos. After seeing my photos on my blog, many assume that I am at least 1.7-1.8 m tall, hence they get the shock of their lives when they meet me in person for the first time, because the truth is, I am really petite, standing at only 1.6m tall.
Why do I look taller in photos? 
 
 That’s a question I get very often, but it is really a matter of just playing with body proportions, knowing what works well for your body type, photography angles and the poses that you strike.
 
Through some practice, I realized that I look tallest when the photographer holds the camera such that it points at the midpoint of my full height. Depending on your photographer’s height, he/she may have to bend down to capture photos at this height. The photographer also needs to ensure that the subject’s full height fits just nicely into the camera frame. 
The wonderful thing about taking photos at this height is that your body proportions do not get distorted. The lack of excess space at the top and bottom of the photo also elongates your body in a proportionate manner. Most of my OOTD photos are taken from this angle, but there are times when I attempt to experiment with other angles because of various reasons.

 

Take these two photos below for instance, which were taken from the top-down angle. 

The top-down angle may work well for selfies, but when it comes to full-length portrait shots, this angle is usually not ideal. Not only do you look disproportionate from this angle, you would also most definitely end up looking like you have short legs, regardless of your pose. Photography angles aside, I personally adore the photo composition and the backdrop of these 2 photos, hence I didn’t mind looking much shorter!
Most people tend to favour the bottom-up angle as they claim that this angle elongates their legs and thus makes them look taller than they actually are. Personally, I find this angle a little strange because your body proportions somehow still look a little out of whack (long legs with tiny head), plus you could also potentially wind up with a double chin in the process.   
What about you? What’s your favourite angle for OOTDs?


I hope you enjoyed reading this post! For those of you who reside in Singapore, have a wonderful long weekend ahead!


Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: Red Accents, Flowers & Foliage

September 26, 2014 by Regina Chow No Comments

I love adding a pop of red to my outfits, especially simple minimalistic pieces like a little black dress. Red stands out against black and the marriage between these two colours creates a classic look that never goes out of style. 
For a more playful and quirky look, you can also consider throwing on a splash of colours with red as an accent colour, like what I did here. It’s easy to wear several colours at the same time and not end up looking like a clown as long as the colour of your shoes and accessories matches one of the colours in the ensemble. 

 

I have been waxing lyrical about leaf prints and palm prints the past 2 weeks, hence this week, I decided it’s about time to bring on both flowers and foliage. After all, leaves and flowers belong together, don’t they?
If you take a closer look at this whimsical top and skorts (yes, it’s not a skirt!) set, you may notice that there are a couple of pop-up leaves and flowers that give it a more 3-dimensional visage. These cute little pop-ups are made of fluffy cotton pads and I know this sounds really childish and ridiculous, but I couldn’t help but give these squishy pop-up motifs a good squeeze every now and then. Oops, now you know how silly I am!

Top and Skort Set from Ching
Shoes from Zara
Bag from Kate Spade
Earrings from Chanel

I hope you enjoyed today’s edition of Fashion Fridays! As always, have a great weekend everyone!

Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion: Black, Cut-outs, Pearls & Bangs

July 12, 2014 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
Black is a perennial favourite in everyone’s wardrobe because it never goes out of style. I have a lot of black in my wardrobe, but my latest obsession comes in the form of black tank tops with cut-outs. A simple black tank is instantly transformed with fashionable cut-outs that reveal just a hint of skin and add an element of surprise. 
As the title suggests, black, cut-outs and pearls take centerstage in the ensemble that I am sharing with you today. This is an outfit that I wore to a weekend lunch date with my in laws at the Raffles Hotel. The hotel’s architecture provided a beautiful backdrop for my outfit shots and as you can probably tell from this series of photos, my photographer cum husband was a little more enthusiastic than usual.

What I really like about this simple tank top with cut-outs from Ohvola is that it can easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. It has certainly proven to be a versatile addition to my wardrobe. 
I could have worn this with shorts and flats for a casual look, but I was in a dressy mood then and pairing it with a statement pearl necklace and a polka dot pencil skirt from MDS seemed like the perfect choice. Instead of going all out with pointy pumps and a jacket, which would have made this completely work appropriate, I chose to tone down the look by going down a different path with a pair of edgy peeptoe mules I picked up at Charles & Keith recently.
 


 Did you notice my fuller bangs in my recent posts? I had them cut because I foresee that I will be having my hair up more in the coming weeks and I like how fuller bangs frame the face. I can have my hair up in a ponytail or a bun and still look put together, which is really important these days given my work schedule. 
There are days when I end up dozing off on the sofa while working on my laptop when my hair is still wet, which is not a good idea but trust me, when you are clocking just 4 hours of sleep per day and you need to dash out of the house in a flash everyday, the last thing that you would think about is your hair. A low-maintenance hairstyle like this suits my current lifestyle without compromising on style. Just what I need to tide over this busy period. 😉
  
 
Top from Ohvola
Skirt from MDS
Shoes from Charles & Keith
Bag from Chanel

 Thanks for reading! Now, excuse me while I get back to work. 
 Have a good weekend everyone!
Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion: Sporty Chic Casual Outfit & Singapore Blog Awards 2014!

July 6, 2014 by Regina Chow 2 Comments
Embracing athleticism and fitness has become a way of life for me. The turning point came when I went for a hot yoga free trial at Updog Studios and fell head over heels in love with it. It was love at first trial and there’s no turning back now. 

There are many ways to embrace athleticism. You can either pick up a sport like I did, or express it in the way you dress, through a sporty chic outfit for instance. The incredible thing about fashion is that it allows you to project various aspects of your personality and interests,or even assume a different persona. You can look sweet and demure today, stylish yet edgy tomorrow or sporty chic the next day. The possibilities are endless.

The sporty luxe trend that took off earlier this year is one trend that I really adore, especially when tropical prints and floral motifs are incorporated into the designs. In this post, I attempted to put together a casual sporty chic attire (complete with my favorite prints at the moment – tropical prints) that is perfect for running errands in our sweltering hot climate.
I also brought along one of my current go-to jackets from Adidas in the event that it rains and the temperature dips. The weather is so unpredictable these days, you’ll never know when dark clouds decide to descend upon us. 

I am not sure if you have noticed, but Adidas has taken on a different look this season with the influx of floral and tropical prints, thanks to their collaboration with Brazilian company The Farm Company. I love the sportswear in this series as everything looks so effortlessly chic and fashion forward without compromising on functionality. The Adidas floral series literally flew off the shelves like hotcakes the minute it was released, and it took me quite a while to find this floral jacket. 

I would have gotten the shorts or pants as well, but they were already completely sold out island-wide. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll bring these popular pieces back. Meanwhile, I’m also keeping my eyes peeled for more sporty chic apparel from their upcoming collections!

Tank Top from Stradivarius
Denim Skirt from Pull & Bear
Sneakers from Korea
Jacket from Adidas
Bag & Accessories from Hermes

Have a great week ahead!

******

Vote for me at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014!
I’ve been selected as a finalist for Best Fashion Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014! 
If you enjoy reading my blog, I would be very grateful if you could vote for my blog, Shopping Queen’s Haven by clicking on this link.
 
You can vote once a day, from now till 31st July 2014.  Voters also stand to win some amazing prizes!
I have to thank my patient hubby, JW, for taking all my OOTD photos even when he has absolutely zero interest in photography (although I think he does have a knack for it). I would also like to thank all of you who have been following my blog regularly for your support, without which I probably wouldn’t have come this far. As for those of you stumbled upon my blog by chance, I hope you like what you see. I will continue to work harder to develop more interesting content as I move along. 
Do feel free to give me your feedback on what you’ll like to see more of on my blog! I would love to hear from you. 
Just drop me an email at regina.chow@gmail.com. 🙂
 

Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: D&G Inspired Tropical Print Dress by Seoul Closette

July 4, 2014 by Regina Chow No Comments
https://www.facebook.com/seoulclosette/photos/a.298712816955673.1073741838.282162215277400/298712826955672/?type=1&theater
 
Seoul Closette brought in a similar dress that comes in both the original blue shade worn by Jun Ji Hyun, and a sweet pastel pink hue, as seen in this series of pictures.

Tropical and floral prints are the talk of the town this summer, and this lovely dress is bound to make a statement with its bold exotic prints, coupled with a figure flattering cut that enhances the female silhouette.

You can choose to wear the dress on or off-shoulder but I chose the latter to bring out the flouncy sleeves which exude a flirty, vintage vibe. To keep the look feminine yet elegant amidst the busy prints, I did away with accessories and also kept my hair away from my face by clipping it up into a low bun.

Dress c/o Seoul Closette
Clutch from Saint Laurent
Shoes from Pazzion
There’s something special about the explosion of tropical prints and mishmash of floral
and fauna motifs that instantly makes you feel like you’re on a holiday. I guess that’s the reason why I have been on the lookout for dresses with tropical prints and this dress definitely came at the right time. 
Thank you once again to the very thoughtful owners of Seoul Closette who read about my fascination with this dress in my post about Jun Ji Hyun’s Style in “You Who Came From The Stars” earlier and decided this would be perfect for me. This, and the Valentino inspired white lace dress which I wrote about last week, are two of my favourite summer dresses!
*****
If you love Korean fashion, do take a look at what Seoul Closette has to offer. Remember to quote “Regina” to receive 5% off your purchases from now till 18 July!
And if you haven’t made plans this weekend, perhaps you could check out Seoul Closette’s pop-up store at Gardens by the Bay on 5 July (that’s tomorrow)! 
Here are the details:

 Happy shopping and have a great weekend ahead!

Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion: Valentino Inspired White Lace Dress from Seoul Closette

June 28, 2014 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
A breezy white dress is a summer essential that never goes out of style, and as I was scouting around for one to refresh my wardrobe, I came across this Valentino inspired lace dress from Seoul Closette, an online store that carries a beautiful collection of apparel and accessories curated and sourced directly from Korea.
It has everything that I love in a dress – intricate lace details that are subtle yet sophisticated, a fit-and-flare silhouette that is absolutely feminine yet flattering, and most importantly, it is made of a light-weight cotton material which is just perfect for the humid climate in Singapore.
I could hardly contain my excitement when I received the dress in the mail. I was smiling from ear to ear, like a child who couldn’t wait to unwrap her Christmas present. My fingers touched the parcel and my heart started pounding as I was a little worried that the dress would turn out different from the pictures online, but my fears were immediately allayed when the envelope opened, revealing the gorgeous dress in its full glory. 
Korean fashion is everywhere these days, and it can be difficult to
ascertain from stock pictures alone if an online store’s apparel are
truly from Korea or simply knock-offs from China. 
The litmus test lies in the quality of the material and the overall workmanship. As Seoul Closette only brings in apparel and accessories from Korea, the workmanship of the dress did not disappoint. In fact, it looks just as charming in real life as it did in pictures, and my photographs are testament to that. 


 

Dress c/o Seoul Closette
Shoes from Christian Louboutin
Socks from Japan

Versatile, chic and elegant, this lovely number has easily become one of my favourite summer dresses and I can foresee that it will be one of my wardrobe staples too. 
*****
Seoul Closette has kindly extended a 5% discount to all my readers. All you have to do is mention my name “REGINA” when you make your purchase (valid from now till 12 July).
Seoul Closette will also be participating in the For Flea Sake flea market on 5 July (next Sat) at Gardens by the Bay (Bay, South) Silver Garden from 9am – 5pm, so do pay them a visit too!
*****
I will be sharing another designer inspired dress from Seoul Closette next week, so do keep a lookout for it! 
Meanwhile, have a great weekend!

Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion: Checks & Stripes

June 23, 2014 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

As you can probably tell, I have developed a liking for mixing prints and patterns of late, and in today’s outfit of the day  (OOTD), checks and stripes take centerstage. Both patterns are rather bold and can look a tad overwhelming when paired together, but a general rule of thumb for me when it comes to the print-on-print trend is to make sure that the two prints are of different sizes for better visual harmony.
In this case, my striped skirt has thick, bold lines that are narrowly spaced, while the checks on my white top are spaced slightly wider apart and drawn with thin lines to balance out the overall look. It also helps that the top I chose is primarily white as that neutralizes the bold black lines on my skirt and really binds the whole look together. 
What I love about prints is that all you need is a dose of it to add interest to any outfit. They’re so fun to play around with and should definitely be in everyone’s style arsenal. The trick is to find two prints that go well together and yes, they don’t necessarily have to match!

Arm Accessory from Hermes
Bag from MyJotterBook
Top, Skirt and Shoes from random shops

To complete the outfit, I slipped on a pair of ankle-high strappy wedges for greater visual impact. I got these from Far East Plaza many years ago, and was afraid that the soles would fall off as I’ve neglected them for a while. Well, and just as I expected, they came off as soon as I took these pictures! 
I was quite crestfallen when that happened but I’m determined to get them fixed. Fortunately for me, I also had another pair of shoes in the car to prepare for wardrobe malfunctions.
Shoes aside, I would also like to bring your attention to this lovely cigar box bag from MyJotterBook, which stocks exclusive handcrafted bags. Lishan, the owner, usually brings in these bags in limited quantities, so the chances of you running into someone on the street carrying the same bag is almost zilch. I personally adore the rocker chic vibes that this bag exudes, complemented by a touch of glamour thanks to the diamonte studs adorning the edges of the bag.

What do you think of this look?
Here’s wishing everyone a great week ahead! Don’t let the Monday Blues get you down. 😉

Share:
Uncategorized

Fashion: All White Outfit

June 17, 2014 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

White is one of my favourite colours. I love experimenting with bold vibrant colours and prints, but on days when I can’t decide on what to wear, I’ll turn to my white outfits.  Not only does white fabric provide the perfect canvas for accessorizing, it also exudes a clean, minimalist vibe and a touch of simple elegance. The epitome of purity and innocence, white outfits are always a breath of fresh air.

This light knit and lace 2 piece set from Japanese label Snidel is one of my most treasured finds during my recent trip to Hokkaido (I will be sharing more shopping tips soon!). I have always been a fan of Japanese apparel because design aside, there is always something special about the quality and workmanship. 
In fact, all you need to do is touch the fabric and you’ll know these lovely pieces are made to last. That probably explains why I always stock up on classic pieces like these whenever I have the chance to lay my hands on Japanese apparel.

 
 I am addicted to Japanese skincare too, in particular SKII. I have been using SKII for close to 2 months now and I have nothing but praises for their products, especially their star product, the facial treatment essence. I’m hoping it isn’t psychological, but I really do feel that my skin looks more rejuvenated and glowy, which is probably the reason why I don’t look as sick as I am in reality.

I was still
feeling pretty ill when this series of photos were taken, but I am now
happy to report that I am on my road to recovery. I can’t wait to be in
the pink of health again! The weather is so unbearably hot these days and everyone around me seems to be falling ill too, so please get enough sleep at night and stay hydrated throughout the day!


Outfit from Snidel (Japanese)
Socks from Tutuanna (Japanese)
Accessories, bags and shoes from random shops in Singapore

Share:
Page 3 of 33« First...2345102030...Last »

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!

Searching for a post?