Fashionably Speaking

by shz

Gosh, I was so naughty last weekend. And I blame it on my sister. The previous weekend before, I saw these three gorgeous skirts that I totally can wear both formally and casually. The problem was they cost like RM100+ each and when I tried them all hoping at least one would be lucky to go home with me, turned out all of them scored. So I went to the shops like three times and tried twice until I brought two of them to the counter and when the girl said “RM262, miss”  and with that glittering smile, I freaked out walked out from the shop. After all that I am never returning to Miss Selfridge Midvalley ever, again.

So yesterday I went to Miss Selfridge in OU and they didn’t have the skirts. But I don’t know what I did to deserve such luck when I found RM90 gorgeous wedges at Bimba & Lola with only my size available. I mean, people – Bimba & Lola! I almost faint when the salesperson said it was RM300 before the 70% discount. It was too good to be true that I bought both colors of the same version. But I don’t regret it, it has been months since I last bought shoes.

Anyway since we are on the shoes and skirts subject, I have always wanted to write something about this whole new fashion wave that I realize going on around. Its great isn’t it, especially I see the hijab wearers are getting more conscious with fashion and with all the available reasonable priced clothes from Korea, Hong Kong or Taiwan people can experiment with a lot of different looks. I love looking at the Lookbooks or Tumblrs with people dressing up like in Vogue. Except that these are real people.

But I also can’t help noticing those who dress so outragesly to the point of being ridiculous that sometimes left me to wonder, where do they go looking like that? Or was that just for show, doing it only in the privacy of their rooms when outside they don’t really dress like that? While being young and free might be a good excuse but seriously kids, some of you might want to reconsider your fashion taste. Because not everything goes with anything. Because while it looks fabulous on the skinny models, our bodies varies in different shapes and sizes.  And really, fashion is not everything. I feel some people is trying too hard to follow every trend. You want to look fashionable and put-together, not like you hit every sale rack this season.

Oh well, don’t listen to this unfashionable me. I simply have nothing to prove. And maybe because I am in an industry that is obsessed with style, I tend to tone down on that one when it comes to myself. No wonder Le Corb, Phillip Johnson, Toyo Ito, Daniel Libeskind, Will Alsop and all other star architects were always photographed wearing just black! I also wear practically – I don’t put on thousands of layers as if I live in Russia and then walk in the streets of KL just because its trendy. Imagine all the sweat and smell going on underneath there.  And I have seen people who wears a blazer over a printed cotton blouse together with a polka dot short skirt over a pants.  Or a skirt over a legging with cardigan over a top. Basically just something over something over something til kingdom come. Wey, hello.. I know its personal preference but be elegant ladies. Less is more, heard of that? Ever wonder why Anna Wintour, the pope of fashion always wear minimally and similarly everytime? Ever saw Karl Lagerfeld in anything else but that suit and gloves? Or Vera Wang in her monochromatic look? Or Marc Jacobs in shirts and jeans? Miuccia Prada? Even people in fashion are not that fashionable!

Its not like I never made a fashion mistake or wore something that was totally out of my proportion. I used to buy all the wrong sort of things that doesn’t suit me and now I only get something that I know will work – tunics, long shirts, one piece short dresses, blouses, maxi skirts, maxi dresses, oversize shirts, cropped jackets, wedges and flats.  And I hate batwings, with some other things I just can’t remember right now.  I also tend to make rules that so far saved me from being a victim to fashion. And often enough I will hear my sister says, “Kak Ngah this is so plain and boring” or “You have the exact same one at home” or “This is so 2005”, but I have my reasons:

1. I love bold prints. That should be enough to make a statement. So wear it with everything else plain. That’s why a lot of my scarfs are not patterned, because I don’t want to look like a scribble book.

2. I just discovered that I actually don’t look so funny in skinny jeans – if I match it with any tops that covers my ass.

3. I like the sort of ‘nothingness’ of the jeans and the T-shirt. I feel that’s about as close as I can get to the future because it seems like something so old that will always be, so I feel it’s a safe bet for the future. (Well actually I didn’t say that, Marc Jacobs did and I totally agree)

4. I would love to try and wear different ways for scarfs, but I have a one year old child who practically pulls and grabs everything she lays her hands on, so unfortunately a good secure wrap is the answer.

5. I’m lucky enough to be in the industry where you can wear jeans to the office, so I don’t need a separate wardrobe. My casual wear are my office wear. But I can’t walk in a meeting and chair it while looking like a rainbow or a party and expect people to take me seriously now, can I?

6. And please, for the love of God – leggings are not pants!

7. Lastly, if you’re married like me you should really consider your partner when you dress, because whatever you wear should complement the person next to you. You wouldn’t want to dictate him now, would you?

Fashion should only be part of your world, not your whole entire world because it’s hard to go with a trend. As soon as it’s out, everyone picks it up. It’s important to stay true to yourself.

So please do that, people and have a happy one next weekend as I will be. Going to Pangkor kor kor kor!